A novel mouse model of hemangiopericytoma due to loss of Tsc2

Hum Mol Genet. 2018 Dec 15;27(24):4169-4175. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy289.

Abstract

Hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare vascular tumor, which is thought to originate from pericytes. However, no direct evidence for the cell of origin has been found, and the mechanism of HPC tumorigenesis is poorly understood. Here we report that loss of the tumor suppressor gene Tsc2 in pericytes using a FoxD1 promoter driven cre allele (Foxd1tm1(GFP/cre) Amc, FoxD1GC) leads to the formation of HPC in multiple sites. Tsc2ffFoxD1GC mice had stunted growth with seizures and tail and hind limb tremor with a median survival of 110 days. They also showed recombination in brain, spinal cord, tongue, liver, intestine and skeletal muscle. Distinctive perivascular tumors consisting of cells with oval nuclei and scant cytoplasm were identified in multiple sites in all Tsc2ffFoxD1GC mice. Immunohistochemistry staining showed a high expression of phospho-S6-S240/244, a hallmark of activated mTORC1, as well as pericyte markers NG2 and vimentin in these tumors. In summary, we demonstrate that loss of Tsc2 in pericytes generates HPC, the first mouse model of HPC reported.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Hemangiopericytoma / genetics*
  • Hemangiopericytoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Integrases / genetics
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 / genetics
  • Mice
  • Pericytes / metabolism
  • Pericytes / pathology
  • Proteoglycans / genetics
  • Seizures / genetics*
  • Seizures / pathology
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein / genetics
  • Vimentin / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxd1 protein, mouse
  • Proteoglycans
  • Tsc2 protein, mouse
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
  • Vimentin
  • chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases