Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Department of ENT, University Hospitals of Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham.
Otol Neurotol. 2023 Dec 1;44(10):e755-e765. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000004011. Epub 2023 Sep 15.
Vestibular schwannomas (VSs), despite being histologically benign, cause significant morbidity because of their challenging intracranial location and the propensity for growth. The role of the stroma and particularly fibroblasts, in the progression of VS, is not completely understood. This study examines the profile of fibroblasts in VS.
Seventeen patients undergoing surgical excision of VS were recruited into the study. Reverse transcription with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed on VS tissue samples and fibroblast-associated molecules examined. Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry in VS tissue were used to study the expression of fibroblast markers CD90 and podoplanin in situ. Fibroblast cultures were established from VS, and RT-qPCR analysis was performed on a panel of fibroblast markers on VS and control tissue fibroblasts.
Several fibroblast-associated molecules including members of galectin family and matrix metalloproteinases were found to be expressed in VS tissue on RT-qPCR analysis. In situ, expression of CD90 and podoplanin was observed in VS tissue both on immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. RT-qPCR analysis of fibroblasts from VS and control vestibular neuroepithelium (NE) showed a higher expression of several molecules of the galectin and matrix metalloproteinases family on VS fibroblasts compared with NE fibroblasts.
This work examines fibroblasts from VS and shows qualitative differences from NE fibroblasts on RT-qPCR. Further understanding of the fibroblast function in the progression of VS will potentially unveil new targets to manage VS growth.
尽管前庭神经鞘瘤（VS）在组织学上是良性的，但由于其颅内位置具有挑战性，且容易生长，因此会导致严重的发病率。基质，尤其是成纤维细胞，在 VS 进展中的作用尚未完全清楚。本研究探讨了 VS 中成纤维细胞的特征。
本研究招募了 17 名接受 VS 手术切除的患者。对 VS 组织样本进行逆转录定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR），并检查与成纤维细胞相关的分子。免疫荧光和免疫组织化学用于研究 VS 组织中成纤维细胞标志物 CD90 和 podoplanin 的原位表达。从 VS 建立成纤维细胞培养物，并对 VS 和对照组织成纤维细胞中的一系列成纤维细胞标志物进行 RT-qPCR 分析。
RT-qPCR 分析发现，VS 组织中存在几种与成纤维细胞相关的分子，包括半乳糖凝集素家族和基质金属蛋白酶的成员。免疫组织化学和免疫荧光均观察到 VS 组织中 CD90 和 podoplanin 的表达。VS 和对照前庭神经上皮（NE）的成纤维细胞的 RT-qPCR 分析显示，与 NE 成纤维细胞相比，VS 成纤维细胞中几种半乳糖凝集素和基质金属蛋白酶家族的分子表达更高。
本研究检查了 VS 中的成纤维细胞，并在 RT-qPCR 上显示出与 NE 成纤维细胞的定性差异。进一步了解成纤维细胞在 VS 进展中的功能可能会揭示新的管理 VS 生长的靶点。
