title: Angiogenic factor expression in hepatic cirrhosis.
abstract: The pathogenesis of fibrosis in hepatic cirrhosis remains obscure. This study examines the eventual role of angiogenic factors in the fibrotic process. A series of 55 cirrhotic livers was studied for the proliferation state of fibroblasts, and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and the basic and acidic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, aFGF) in both fibroblasts and hepatic cells. The angiogenic and/or fibrogenic factors VEGF, TP, bFGF, and aFGF were clearly expressed in regenerative hepatocytes, but not in fibroblasts of diffuse hepatic fibrosis. The immunohistochemical findings suggest that angiogenic factors and factors promoting oxidative stress (i.e., TP) produced by hepatocytes may contribute to the development of fibrous bands in hepatic cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Democritus University of Thrace Medical School, P.O. Box 12, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giatromanolaki
authors.forename: Stamatia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kotsiou
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Koukourakis
authors.forename: Efthimios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sivridis
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase