Correlation between bradykinin-induced blood–tumor barrier permeability and B2 receptor expression in experimental brain tumors

Abstract

Localization of B2 receptors in brain tumor cells and microvessel endothelial cells of the brain tumors was investigated to study the differential sensitivity of brain tumors to bradykinin. The present study shows that B2 receptor expression levels vary in cultured RG2, C6 and 9L glioma cells as well as in the intracerebral tumors established with these cell lines in rats. The double immunohistochemical data indicate that B2 receptors are localized to tumor cells and not to the tumor capillaries. Immunostaining and Western blot analysis for B2 receptor showed that the B2 receptor expression was in the order C6>RG2>9L. The permeability studies on RG2, C6 and 9L tumors in rats showed that C6 tumor had the highest increase (178%) in Ki (unidirectional transport across blood–brain barrier (BBB)/blood–tumor barrier (BTB)), while 9L tumor had the least increase of Ki (35%) over the control group, following intracarotid infusion of bradykinin. We found a positive correlation (r = 0.965, p<0.001) between B2 receptor levels and bradykinin-induced increase in BTB permeability. We conclude that B2 receptors are localized to tumor cells and not to normal or tumor capillary endothelial cells. C6 tumor with highest B2 receptor expression was most responsive to bradykinin, while RG2 and 9L tumors with lower B2 receptor expression level were less sensitive to bradykinin with regard to BTB permeability.