Expression of structural proteins and angiogenic factors in cerebrovascular anomalies.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to describe the expression of matrix proteins and angiogenic factors in cerebrovascular malformations.


METHODS
Forty-six cerebrovascular malformations were immunohistochemically investigated with a battery of staining for five structural proteins (collagen IV, collagen III, smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, and laminin), and three angiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF], and transforming growth factor alpha [TGFalpha]). The lesions consisted of 34 arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), 10 cavernous malformations (CMs), and 2 venous angiomas. Expression intensity for each histological layer in the abnormal vessel wall was graded and compared.


RESULTS
AVM endothelia and subendothelia expressed more laminin and collagen IV than the same layers of CMs. Conversely, CMs expressed more fibronectin than AVMs. CM endothelia exhibited more prominent staining for smooth muscle actin than AVM endothelia. AVMs and CMs expressed VEGF in the endothelium and subendothelium, and TGFalpha in endothelial and perivascular layers. However, unlike AVMs, CMs expressed bFGF in the endothelium as well. The brain tissue intermingled within AVMs also expressed growth factors. Modified glial cells in the brain tissue adjacent to CMs expressed bFGF and TGFalpha, but not VEGF. Venous angiomas did not express the studied growth factors and mainly consisted of structural proteins of angiogenically mature tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression characteristics of structural proteins reveal that AVMs and CMs have different immunohistological properties. This study provides strong confirmation of previous findings of VEGF and bFGF immunoexpression in AVMs and CMs. It adds new information on TGFalpha expression in these malformations and on expression of the angiogenic factors in venous angiomas.
Kiliç
T
T
Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Pamir
M N
MN
Küllü
S
S
Eren
F
F
Ozek
M M
MM
Black
P M
PM
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000473:pathology*; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000473:pathology*; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D000199:Actins; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D006133:Growth Substances; D007797:Laminin; D008222:Lymphokines; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D003094:Collagen