Immunohistochemistry of port-wine stains and normal skin with endothelium-specific antibodies PAL-E, anti-ICAM-1, anti-ELAM-1, and anti-factor VIIIrAg.
METHODS
Immunohistochemical analysis using four monoclonal antibodies specific for endothelium was performed to evaluate the possible role the endothelium may play in the pathogenesis of port-wine stains. In 11 patients with port-wine stains, biopsy specimens were obtained from involved and normal skin. On frozen tissue sections, we studied and compared the distribution and staining pattern of PAL-E, anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), anti-endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1), and anti-factor VIIIrAg (FVIIIrAg), all recognizing specific epitopes of vascular endothelial cells.


RESULTS
The PAL-E, anti-FVIIIrAg, and anti-ICAM-1 antibodies showed a similar distribution and staining pattern. The intensity of staining was equally strong with PAL-E and FVIIIrAg, while the expression of ICAM-1 was moderate. The ELAM-1 antibody exhibited only a weak expression in about 70% of evaluated specimens. No substantial differences in the intensity and distribution pattern of expression of these proteins could be demonstrated between normal skin and port-wine stains.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the abnormal vessel pathologic findings in port-wine stains are not due to defects associated with the endothelium. According to PAL-E antibody staining properties, port-wine stain vessels could be classified as capillaries and/or postcapillary venules and small veins.
Neumann
R
R
Department of Dermatology, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria.
Leonhartsberger
H
H
Knobler
R
R
Hönigsmann
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology*; D019040:E-Selectin; D004727:Endothelium / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1