Activating PIK3CA alleles and lymphangiogenic phenotype of lymphatic endothelial cells isolated from lymphatic malformations

Alexander J. Osborn, Peter Dickie, Derek E. Neilson, Kathryn Glaser, Kaari A. Lynch, Anita Gupta, Belinda Hsi Dickie*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

126 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are developmental anomalies of the lymphatic system associated with the dysmorphogenesis of vascular channels lined by lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). Seeking to identify intrinsic defects in affected LECs, cells were isolated from malformation tissue or fluid on the basis of CD31 and podoplanin (PDPN) expression. LECs from five unrelated LM lesions were characterized, including cells derived from one patient previously diagnosed with CLOVES. CLOVES-related LECs carried a known, activating mutation in PIK3CA (p.H1047L), confirmed by direct sequencing. Activating PIK3CA mutations (p.E542K and p.E545A) were identified in lesion-derived cells from the other four patients, also by direct sequencing. The five LM-LEC cultures shared a lymphangiogenic phenotype distinguished by PI3K/AKT activation, enhanced sprouting efficiency, elevated VEGF-C expression and COX2 expression, shorter doubling times and reduced expression of angiopoietin 2 and CXCR4. Nine additional LM-LEC populations and 12 of 15 archived LM tissue samples were shown to bear common PIK3CA variants by allele-specific PCR. The activation of a central growth/survival pathway (PI3K/AKT) represents a feasible target for the non-invasive treatment of LMs bearing in mind that background genetics may individualize lesions and influence treatments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)926-938
Number of pages13
JournalHuman molecular genetics
Volume24
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 15 2015

Funding

This work was supported through internal funding provided by the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics(clinical)
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

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