The expression of angiopoietins and their receptor Tie-2 in human prostate carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 are antagonist angiogenic factors acting via the same receptor Tie-2. Their role in prostate carcinoma (PCa) is not known.


METHODS
Using immunohistochemistry, localization of angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2 and their receptor Tie-2 was studied in normal human prostate and PCa.


RESULTS
Few epithelial cells of normal prostate expressed angiopoietin-1 and Tie-2 but not angiopoietin-2. Normal prostate blood vessels were negative. In PCa, intraductal grown tumor cells showed angiopoietin-1 but not angiopoietin-2. Blood vessels close to the ducts and some apical tumor cells expressed angiopoietin-1 and Tie-2. In glandular PCa, most of the tumor and intraglandular stromal cells were positive for both angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2. Angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 were also found in tumor capillaries. Additionally, angiopoietin-2 was expressed in smooth muscle cells of intratumoral blood vessels which also exhibited Tie-2.


CONCLUSIONS
The results presented indicate a role of angiopoietin-Tie-2 system, particularly of angiopoietin-2 in the vascularization of PCa.
Wurmbach
J H
JH
Department of Anatomy, University Hospital Hamburg, Germany.
Hammerer
P
P
Sevinc
S
S
Huland
H
H
Ergün
S
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2
C467630:ANGPT1 protein, human; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; C105373:MEN1 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2