Mast cells in angiolipomas and hemangiomas of human skin: are they important for angiogenesis?
To characterize the potential role of mast cells (MC) in angiogenesis, this study tests the hypothesis that MC may be more abundant in angiolipomas than in classic lipomas. MC counts were compared in 13 subcutaneous angiolipomas and 15 subcutaneous classic lipomas stained with Giemsa. Angiolipomas had ten times as many MC as did classic lipomas (25.34 +/- 2.83 versus 2.41 +/- 0.37 per mm2, mean +/- SE). To clarify whether this difference was primary (angiogenic activity) or secondary to the increased vascularity, MC were counted in 8 longstanding cutaneous capillary hemangiomas versus 13 cutaneous capillary hemangiomas of recent onset (pyogenic granulomas). If MC were mediating primary angiogenesis, one would expect them to be present in greater numbers in early than in late hemangiomas. To the contrary, however, long-standing hemangiomas were found to have significantly more MC than had those of recent onset (52.48 +/- 14.99 versus 6.59 +/- 3.37 per mm2, mean +/- SE). These results suggest that MC may not play an essential, early role in the proliferation of blood vessels in angiolipomas and hemangiomas, but rather may be related to maturation of blood vessels in these tumors.
Shea
C R
CR
Department of Dermatology, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York 10021.
Prieto
V G
VG
D018206:Angiolipoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology*; D017789:Granuloma, Pyogenic / Q000276:immunology; D018324:Hemangioma, Capillary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology*