title: Accelerated lymphangiogenesis in malignant lymphoma: possible role of VEGF-A and VEGF-C.
abstract: There is little information regarding the lymphangiogenesis of malignant lymphoma. In this study, we evaluated the lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in 44 lymph nodes of 39 malignant lymphomas and five non-reactive normal lymph nodes, based on the lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and microvessel density (MVD) calculated by the computer-assisted assessment of vessel density. The LVD of malignant lymphomas was significantly higher than that of non-reactive normal lymph nodes, irrespective of subtypes (P = 0.00077). On the contrary, there was no difference in MVD between malignant lymphomas and non-reactive normal lymph nodes, except for diffuse large B cell lymphomas, which had a significantly low value of MVD, in comparison with non-reactive normal lymph nodes (P = 0.009). We further examined the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF-A, which function on lymphangiogenesis in lymph node samples. VEGF-C was expressed in 36 of 39 malignant lymphomas. All 39 of the malignant lymphoma samples expressed VEGF-A. Furthermore, the level of LVD and VEGF-A or VEGF-C was positively correlated. These findings suggest that lymphangiogenesis is actively developed in lymph nodes of malignant lymphomas and it may be induced by both VEGF-A and VEGF-C secreted from lymphoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Haematology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan. ryo@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kadowaki
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ichinohasama
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harigae
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishizawa
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okitsu
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kameoka
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C