Released during co-culture of LECs and platelets. Isolated platelets were added at 7610`7, 10`6 or 10`5 per well to LECs (1610`5 per 30 mm well) after 24 hours, and cells were cultured 10781694 for Title Loaded From File another 48 h. Culture Title Loaded From File supernatant was harvested, centrifuged to remove cellular components and then assayed for the concentration of PDGF-BB and VEGF-C by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Figure 3G and 3H show that at a platelet concentration of 10`6, PDGFR-b and VEGF-C were released, and this release of growth factors was strongly increased at a platelet concentration of 10`7. As a last step, blocking experiments were performed: LECs were seeded at 1610`5 per 30 mm well. After 24 hours isolated platelets were added at 7610`7 per well with or without blocking reagents against PDGFR? VEGFR-2 and/or VEGFR3. Cells were cultured for another 48 h before determining LEC counts. Fig. 3I shows that LEC cell proliferation was in part reduced by the addition of the individual compounds inSurvival AnalysisMean observation time was 5063 (standard error) months, during this observation period, 154 patients (48.1 ) developed recurrent disease, and 131 (40.9 ) died. The presence of STC was associated with shorter DFS of all cases in univariate analysis (p = 0.036, Breslow test, Fig. 2A). AtThrombocytes and Lymphatics in Esophageal CancerFigure 3. Cell culture experiments. A: LEC proliferation is enhanced by co-culture with human platelets in a dose-dependent manner. LECs were seeded at 1610`5 per 30 mm well. After 24 hours isolated platelets were added at 3610`7, 10`6 or 10`5 per well and cells were cultured for another 48 h. For quantification of cell proliferation, the LEC count was determined (black bars, right scale) and metabolic activity was measured by tetrazolium reduction assay (white bars, left scale). B : Corresponding microscopic images to A: B: Control; C: EC+Px10`7, D: EC+Px10`6, E: EC+Px10`5. F: LEC proliferation is enhanced by co-culture with human platelets in a time-dependent manner. LECs were seeded at 1610`5 per 30 mm well. 24 hours thereafter isolated platelets were added at 1610`7 per well and cells were cultured for another 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell counts were determined for LEC-platelet co-cultures (solid line) as compared to LECs without platelet addition (dashed line). G+H: Growth factor release during co-culture of LECs and human platelets. LECs were seeded at 1610`5 per 30 mm well. After 24 hours isolated platelets were added at 7610`7, 10`6 or 10`5 per well and cells were cultured for another 48 h. Culture supernatant was harvested, centrifuged (to remove cellular components) and then assayed for the concentration of PDGF-BB (G) and VEGF-C (H) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. I: Platelet-induced LEC proliferation is mediated by PDGFRb, VEGFR-2 and -3. LECs were seeded at 1610`5 per 30 mm well. After 24 hours isolated platelets were added at 7610`7 per well with or without blocking reagents against PDGFR? VEGFR-2 and/or VEGFR-3. Cells were cultured for another 48 h before determining LEC counts. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0066941.gcomparison to LEC/platelet co-culture without blocking substances. Inhibition of VEGFR-3 (blocking VEGF-C signaling) was most potent and decreased the platelet-mediated LEC proliferation by 90 . This effect could not be further enhanced by combination with anti-PDGFR?and anti-VEGFR-2 antibodies.DiscussionPlatelets play an important role in human malignant disease: So it has been shown in many studies that.Released during co-culture of LECs and platelets. Isolated platelets were added at 7610`7, 10`6 or 10`5 per well to LECs (1610`5 per 30 mm well) after 24 hours, and cells were cultured 10781694 for another 48 h. Culture supernatant was harvested, centrifuged to remove cellular components and then assayed for the concentration of PDGF-BB and VEGF-C by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Figure 3G and 3H show that at a platelet concentration of 10`6, PDGFR-b and VEGF-C were released, and this release of growth factors was strongly increased at a platelet concentration of 10`7. As a last step, blocking experiments were performed: LECs were seeded at 1610`5 per 30 mm well. After 24 hours isolated platelets were added at 7610`7 per well with or without blocking reagents against PDGFR? VEGFR-2 and/or VEGFR3. Cells were cultured for another 48 h before determining LEC counts. Fig. 3I shows that LEC cell proliferation was in part reduced by the addition of the individual compounds inSurvival AnalysisMean observation time was 5063 (standard error) months, during this observation period, 154 patients (48.1 ) developed recurrent disease, and 131 (40.9 ) died. The presence of STC was associated with shorter DFS of all cases in univariate analysis (p = 0.036, Breslow test, Fig. 2A). AtThrombocytes and Lymphatics in Esophageal CancerFigure 3. Cell culture experiments. A: LEC proliferation is enhanced by co-culture with human platelets in a dose-dependent manner. LECs were seeded at 1610`5 per 30 mm well. After 24 hours isolated platelets were added at 3610`7, 10`6 or 10`5 per well and cells were cultured for another 48 h. For quantification of cell proliferation, the LEC count was determined (black bars, right scale) and metabolic activity was measured by tetrazolium reduction assay (white bars, left scale). B : Corresponding microscopic images to A: B: Control; C: EC+Px10`7, D: EC+Px10`6, E: EC+Px10`5. F: LEC proliferation is enhanced by co-culture with human platelets in a time-dependent manner. LECs were seeded at 1610`5 per 30 mm well. 24 hours thereafter isolated platelets were added at 1610`7 per well and cells were cultured for another 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell counts were determined for LEC-platelet co-cultures (solid line) as compared to LECs without platelet addition (dashed line). G+H: Growth factor release during co-culture of LECs and human platelets. LECs were seeded at 1610`5 per 30 mm well. After 24 hours isolated platelets were added at 7610`7, 10`6 or 10`5 per well and cells were cultured for another 48 h. Culture supernatant was harvested, centrifuged (to remove cellular components) and then assayed for the concentration of PDGF-BB (G) and VEGF-C (H) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. I: Platelet-induced LEC proliferation is mediated by PDGFRb, VEGFR-2 and -3. LECs were seeded at 1610`5 per 30 mm well. After 24 hours isolated platelets were added at 7610`7 per well with or without blocking reagents against PDGFR? VEGFR-2 and/or VEGFR-3. Cells were cultured for another 48 h before determining LEC counts. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0066941.gcomparison to LEC/platelet co-culture without blocking substances. Inhibition of VEGFR-3 (blocking VEGF-C signaling) was most potent and decreased the platelet-mediated LEC proliferation by 90 . This effect could not be further enhanced by combination with anti-PDGFR?and anti-VEGFR-2 antibodies.DiscussionPlatelets play an important role in human malignant disease: So it has been shown in many studies that.