Expression of CD34, alpha-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor-beta1 in squamous intraepithelial lesions and squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.
This retrospective study investigated CD34, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression in stromal cells of cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CINs; n = 30), invasive cervical squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs; n = 38) and adjacent normal cervix. Normal cervix and CINs contained diffuse CD34-positive stromal cells but no alpha-SMA-positive myofibroblasts. In contrast, 34 of 38 SCCs were free of CD34-positive stromal cells and all contained alpha-SMA-positive stromal myofibroblasts; adjacent normal tissue contained CD34-positive stromal cells and no alpha-SMA-positive myofibroblasts. More intense TGF-beta1 expression was observed in SCC cells than in normal cervical epithelium or CINs. This study shows that the disappearance of CD34-positive stromal cells and appearance of alpha-SMA-positive stromal myofibroblasts may be associated with transformation of cervical CIN to SCC. These findings support the suggestion that over-production of TGF-beta1 in SCC cells is one potential mechanism mediating the transformation of stromal cells to myofibroblasts in cervical carcinogenesis.
Li
Q
Q
Department of Pathology, Clinical School of Medical College of Nanjing University, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing, China.
Huang
W
W
Zhou
X
X
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000378:metabolism*
D000199:Actins; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1