[Expression of members of the cadherin-/catenin-protein family in juvenile angiofibromas].
BACKGROUND
Angiofibromas are benign, but locally aggressive tumors occurring nearly exclusively in adolescent males. Pathogenesis of this fibrovascular neoplasm is still unknown. Detection of beta-catenin gene mutations and immunohistochemical localization of beta-catenin only in the nuclei of stromal cells has been proposed as evidence for the stromal cells to be the neoplastic cells in angiofibromas (Abraham et al., 2001).


METHODS
Paraffin embedded tissue of 13 angiofibromas was analysed immunohistochemically for expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and gamma-catenin.


RESULTS
In all angiofibromas stromal cells showed in their cytoplasm and their nuclei strong immunoreaction for beta-catenin. In 10 out of 13 angiofibromas strong immunoreaction was also observed in endothelial cells covering the irregular lined vascular spaces. While gamma-catenin was detected in 7 out of 13 angiofibromas in the stromal cells and endothelial cells, N-cadherin was found only in the stromal cells in 8 out of 13 angiofibromas. No significant immunoreaction in angiofibromas was seen for E-cadherin and alpha-catenin.


CONCLUSIONS
Proof of strong beta-catenin-expression in stromal cells and endothelial cells stress possible importance of the APC/beta-catenin-pathway in angiofibromas, but gives no certain evidence for the assumption that stromal cells may be the neoplastic cells. As beta-catenin can increase sensitivity of the androgen receptor, it may be assumed that the increased beta-catenin-expression in angiofibromas is involved in the typical growth stimulus of this tumor in adolescent males.
Rippel
C
C
Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes, Hamburg/Saar.
Plinkert
P K
PK
Schick
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D018322:Angiofibroma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051180:Desmoplakins; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000473:pathology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; C495292:JUP protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin