Immunohistochemical analysis of platelet-derived growth factor and its receptors in soft tissue malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
BACKGROUND
Little information is available regarding the expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms and their receptors in soft tissue malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH).


METHODS
We investigated expression of PDGF isoforms and their receptors (PDGF-R alpha and -R beta) in 43 MFH tissue specimens using immunohistochemical techniques. Furthermore, we examined the correlation of PDGF expression in MFHs with proliferative activity assessed by MIB-1 immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Positive cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for PDGF-AA, -BB and -AB was identified in tumor cells of 28 (66%), 4 (10%) and 26 (61%), respectively, of the 43 MFHs analyzed. Positive cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for PDGF-R alpha and -R beta was identified in tumor cells of 41 (95%) and 32 (74%), respectively, of the MFHs. Thirty-four (79%) MFHs coexpressed one or more PDGF isoforms and their corresponding receptors. In PDGF-AA immunostaining, MIB-indices in the high immunoreactivity group (> 10% of tumor cells) were significantly higher than those in the low immunoreactivity group (< 10% of tumor cells) (p = 0.031).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data provide evidence to support the presence of an autocrine/paracrine mechanism of proliferation control involving the PDGF ligand/receptor system in human MFHs.
Yamamoto
Tetsuji
T
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan. yamatetu@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
Akisue
Toshihiro
T
Marui
Takashi
T
Fujita
Ikuo
I
Matsumoto
Keiji
K
Kawamoto
Teruya
T
Hitora
Toshiaki
T
Nakatani
Tetsuya
T
Nagira
Keiko
K
Kurosaka
Masahiro
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta