[Expression of caveolin in hepatocellular carcinoma: association with unpaired artery formation and radiologic findings].
OBJECTIVE
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is becoming one of the common malignant tumors worldwide, and it is characterized by its high vascularity. Caveolin is the major structural protein in caveolae, which are small omega-shaped invaginations within the plasma membrane. Caveolin has been implicated in mitogenic signaling, oncogenesis and angiogenesis. The expression of caveolin-1 and -2 in HCC and its potential relationship with angiogenesis has not been examined.


METHODS
Paraffin sections of 35 HCC specimens were immunostained with caveolin-1, caveolin-2, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and CD34 antibodies. In addition, the expression of caveolin-1 and -2 mRNA in HCC was examined. The relationship between the radiological findings and the number of unpaired arteries and microvessel density (MVD) was also investigated.


RESULTS
Caveolin-1 and -2 were expressed in the sinusoidal endothelial cells in 20 out of 35, and 18 out of 35 HCC specimens, respectively. Caveolin-1 and -2 were also expressed in the smooth muscle cells of the unpaired arteries in 26 out of 35, and 18 out of 35 HCC specimens, respectively. Increased expression of caveolin-1 and -2 mRNA was detected in 26.7% and 33.3% of the tumor specimens, respectively, compared with the corresponding non-tumorous adjacent liver tissues. There was a significant correlation between expression of caveolin-1, -2 in the smooth muscle cells of unpaired arteries and the number of unpaired arteries. The number of unpaired arteries in HCCs was found to be associated with the degree of contrast enhancement in the arterial phase imaging. However, it did not correlate with the degree of MVD.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the expression of caveolin-1, -2 is associated with the formation of unpaired arteries in HCC. In addition, there is a correlation between the degree of contrast enhancement of the HCC in the arterial phase image and the number of unpaired arteries.
Choi
Ha Na
HN
Department of Pathology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.
Kim
Kyung Ryoul
KR
Park
Ho Sung
HS
Jang
Kyu Yun
KY
Kang
Myoung Jae
MJ
Lee
Dong Geun
DG
Kim
Young Kon
YK
Cho
Baik Hwan
BH
Cha
Eun Jung
EJ
Moon
Woo Sung
WS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051243:Caveolin 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D051242:Caveolin 1; D051243:Caveolin 2