Interaction between inflammation and angiogenesis during different stages of cervical carcinogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
The primary aim of this study was to investigate the role of angiogenesis and inflammatory cell response in cervical carcinogenesis.


METHODS
Formalin-fixed tissue specimens from 58 uterine cervical specimens (8 CIN1, 14 CIN2, 28 CIN3, and 8 SCC), representing the different stages of cervical carcinogenesis, were immunohistochemically analyzed. Normal cervical tissue specimens were also included as controls. The present study assessed the expression of CD31 and CD105 to evaluate microvessel density (MVD), the macrophage marker CD68 and the panleukocyte marker CD45. In addition, expression of iNOS (inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase) was also evaluated.


RESULTS
MVD, measured by either CD31 or CD105, increased along the continuum from normal epithelium to squamous cell carcinoma, and a significant correlation between the CD105-MVD and the CD31-MVD was observed (r=0.8735; p<0.0001). Furthermore, the number of infiltrating macrophages was significantly associated with progression to malignancy. Interestingly, there was a close positive correlation between macrophage counts and CD105-MVD (r=0.7525; p<0.0001). In striking contrast to the other angiogenic and inflammatory markers tested, iNOS expression was significantly reduced as cervical lesion grade progressed from low to high.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrated a positive correlation between neovascularity and macrophage counts, whereas iNOS expression displayed an inverse relationship with macrophage density and tumor progression. Low iNOS expression may modify the function of tumor-infiltrating macrophages toward a malignant phenotype that promotes tumor progression rather than an anti-tumor response.
Mazibrada
Jasenka
J
Department of Public Health and Microbiology, Medical School of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Rittà
Massimo
M
Mondini
Michele
M
De Andrea
Marco
M
Azzimonti
Barbara
B
Borgogna
Cinzia
C
Ciotti
Marco
M
Orlando
Augusto
A
Surico
Nicola
N
Chiusa
Luigi
L
Landolfo
Santo
S
Gariglio
Marisa
M
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000071063:Endoglin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000071063:Endoglin; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C064206:ENG protein, human; C516769:PTPRC protein, human