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Nestin-Driven Green Fluorescent Protein as an Imaging Marker for Nascent Blood Vessels in Mouse Models of Cancer

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Light Microscopy

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 689))

Abstract

A transgenic mouse, in which the regulatory elements of the stem cell marker, nestin drive green fluorescent protein (ND-GFP), expresses GFP in nascent blood vessels. Red fluorescent protein (RFP)-expressing tumors transplanted to nestin-GFP mice enable specific visualization of nascent vessels in the growing tumors. The ND-GFP mouse was also utilized to develop a rapid in vivo/ex vivo fluorescent angiogenesis assay by implanting Gelfoam®, a surgical sponge derived from pigskin, which was rapidly vascularized by fluorescent nascent blood vessels. Angiogenesis could be imaged and quantified when stimulated or inhibited by specific compounds in both tumors and Gelfoam®. These fluorescent models can be used to study the early events of angiogenesis and to quantitatively determine efficacy of antiangiogenesis compounds.

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Acknowledgments

These studies were supported in part by grants CA099258 and CA103563 from the National Cancer Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AntiCancer Inc and Department of Surgery, University of California, 7917, Ostrow Street, San Diego, CA, 92111, USA

    Robert M. Hoffman

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  1. Robert M. Hoffman
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Correspondence to Robert M. Hoffman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Structural Biology &, Reproduction, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av Antonio Carlos- Pampulha 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Hélio Chiarini-Garcia

  2. Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, ICB, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Campus 36.036-330, Juiz de Fora, MG, 36036-900, Brazil

    Rossana C. N. Melo

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Hoffman, R.M. (2011). Nestin-Driven Green Fluorescent Protein as an Imaging Marker for Nascent Blood Vessels in Mouse Models of Cancer. In: Chiarini-Garcia, H., Melo, R. (eds) Light Microscopy. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 689. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-950-5_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-950-5_11

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

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