Embryonic stem cells: a novel tool for the study of antiangiogenesis and tumor-induced angiogenesis

Major research initiatives in antiangiogenesis research have been undertaken to control angiogenic diseases such as polyarthritis, psoriasis, endometriosis, and diabetic retinopathy, and inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis has emerged as one of the most promising anti-cancer therapies currently available. Although several quantitative in vivo (i.e., animal models) as well as in vitro (i.e., pure endothelial cell cultures) angiogenesis assays have been described, the development of novel angiogenesis assays with organotypic culture systems that take into account oxygen and nutrient gradients, depth-dependent changes in intracellular pH and a redox state similar to that found in a natural tissue microenvironment are necessary to investigate blood vessel growth. Embryonic stem cells of mouse and human origin have the capacity to develop into three-dimensional tissues with functional capillaries, and this model system represents an excellent in vitro model for antiangiogenesis research. Upon confrontation of stem cells by co-culture with multicellular tumor spheroids, tumor-induced angiogenesis, i.e., the invasion of endothelial host-derived cells into a tumor tissue, can also be monitored. The current review provides an overview of embryonic stem cells as novel tools for antiangiogenesis research and outlines the use of confrontation cultures for the study of tumor-induced angiogenesis.