Mesenchymal stem cell-like cells in classic renal angiomyolipoma

Abstract

Abstract. As a benign mesenchymal tumor, classic renal angiomyolipoma (AML) may obliterate the kidney parenchyma and cause renal hemorrhage. It has previously been reported that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are involved in tumorigenesis; however, there have been no studies on stem cells with renal AML origin. In the present study, six females with classic renal AML received a partial or total nephrectomy. During surgery, tumor tissues were collected and culture expansion of adhesive fibroblastoid cells from these tissues was performed. We successfully isolated and cultured MSC-like cells from all six renal AML tumors. MSC characteristics, including morphology, immunophenotype and multidifferentiation potential were analyzed. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that these cells are highly similar to human bone marrow MSCs due to the expression of MSC-specific surface proteins, including CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90 and CD105. The stem cell-like nature of these cells is further supported by their adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation potentials when incubated in appropriate differentiation cocktails. Renal AML-derived adhesive cells possessing the characteristics of MSCs are described for the first time. They are a novel cell type which may be useful in future studies with regards to determining the role of stem cells in the formation and development of renal AML.

Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is central to the initiation and propagation of human angiomyolipoma, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target

“…While it is unclear why different tumors harbor different proportions of each component, it is likely that the differentiation level of the epithelioid compartment dictates tumor aggressiveness, as tumors composed solely of epithelioid cells (i.e., epithelioid AML variant) are more aggressive (Cibas et al , ; Konosu‐Fukaya et al , ). Moreover, our results indicate that pericytes/MSCs, previously suggested to play a role in AML pathogenesis (Yan et al , ; Siroky et al , ) drive tumor growth, and are inherently skewed toward the specific lineages seen in AML (e.g., fat and smooth muscle) at the expense of other MSC lineages (e.g., bone and cartilage). This tendency is mediated, at least in part, by PPARG.…”

Renal manifestation of tuberous sclerosis complex

“…The HMB‐45 antibody is directed at premelanosome protein (PMEL)‐17 and is useful in staining melanoma, angiomyolipoma, and the translocation variety of renal cell carcinoma. Mesenchymal stem cell‐like cells have been identified in angiomyolipomata (Yan et al, ), and pericytes have been strongly implicated as the cell of origin for angiomyolipomata (Siroky et al, ). This latter possibility is intriguing given that vascular aneurysms associated with TSC which arise in angiomyolipomata (Yamakado et al, ), aorta (Shepherd & Gomez, ), and brain (Beltramello et al, ).…”

Gastric Angiomyolipoma Masquerading as Gastric Malignancy

“…Histiogenesis of AML is not definitively known. Studies have hypothesized that AML arises from pluripotent stem cells derived from the neural crest 11. The diagnostic microscopic feature of AML is the triphasic histology characterized by thick-walled vessels, sheets and bundles of myoid cells, and adipocytes, each constituting at least 10% of the tumor 4.…”