Infantile hemangiomas (IH) or "strawberry tumors" are benign cutaneous tumors associated with abnormal proliferation of small vessels. Very common in infants (7%) and often innocuous, these vascular tumor appear few days after birth. They grow during the first weeks of life. Then they spontaneously regress for several years. However, 10% require a surgery or a treatment by propranolol depending on IH location and in case of vital threat (blocking breathing, heart failure) or if they lead to complications sometimes painful and dangerous for children (ulcerations, functional risks such as loss of vision). The origin and mechanism of the tumor growth are unknown. Moreover, there is no satisfactory model to study this tumour. Our team hypothesized that intrinsic cellular components of the tumor could have a role in the pathophysiology of IH. As part of our research, we investigated the possible role of IH pericytes on the formation of vessels by endothelial cells. We modeled the formation of these vessels in vitro with IH-pericytes in the presence of IH or foreskin endothelial cells. Our results show that pericytes of hemangioma play an important role in vessel stabilization, and may explain part of the deviation towards a tumour phenotype. This model is currently investigated in response to propranolol.

Pericytes from Infantile Hemangioma regulate vessels formation in vitro