title: Immunohistochemical expression of granzyme B and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in normal uterine cervices and low and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the immunoexpression of granzyme B and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the variants of cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Granzyme B immunohistochemical expression was studied in the epithelium, stroma and in both the epithelium + stroma of 142 fragments of uterine cervix; there were 34 grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 1), 36 grade 2 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 2), 33 grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 3) and 39 uterine cervix fragments without abnormalities - control group. Immunoexpression of VEGF was studied in 160 uterine cervix fragments, with 43 grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 1), 33 grade 2 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 2), 31 grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 3) and 53 uterine cervix fragments without abnormalities--control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the stroma, immunoexpression of granzyme B in grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias was smaller than in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias. High VEGF immunoexpression was found in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias while it was low in grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias and in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher the severity of the cervical intraepithelial lesion, the higher the immunoexpression of granzyme B. A progressive increase in VEGF immunoexpression was found in the intense grade, according to the severity of the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP-E.P.M.), São Paulo, Brazil. patynapoli@hotmail.com
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Belfort-Mattos
authors.forename: G R A
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Focchi
authors.forename: N M G
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Speck
authors.forename: N S A
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: C R N
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: J C L
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ribalta
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D053804:Granzymes / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D053804:Granzymes