Angiogenesis in mucous retention cyst: a human in vivo-like model of endothelial cell differentiation in mucous substrate.
BACKGROUND
Mucous retention cysts contain a mucous pool in the lumina, in which pure angiogenic processes are occasionally observed. By using this unique human material, our aim was to understand the in vivo angiogenic process.


METHODS
Fifteen surgical tissue samples of mucous retention cysts of the lip were examined for expression of vascular endothelial markers and extracellular matrix molecules by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization (ISH).


RESULTS
Endothelial cells forming new vascular channels showed immunopositivities for CD31, CD34, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and von Willebrand factor (vWF). These newly formed capillaries were surrounded by tenascin-positive matrices and further by a dense infiltration of CD68-positive cells with foamy to epitheloid appearances. Some of these cells were simultaneously positive for CD34, VEGF, and one of its receptors, Flk-1, and they showed definite mRNA as well as protein signals for tenascin. In addition, these cells often tended to be aligned, which suggested tubule formation.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that monocyte/macrophage lineage cells are a major source for endothelial cells at least in mucous retention cysts and that tenascin produced by those cells plays an important role in differentiation of endothelial cells.
Swelam
Wael
W
Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Tissue Regeneration and Reconstruction, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
Ida-Yonemochi
Hiroko
H
Saku
Takashi
T
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009078:Mucocele / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019063:Tenascin / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D019063:Tenascin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule