title: Correlation of Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) with VEGF and HIF-1α expression in human glioma.
abstract: To investigate the potential role of the notch ligand delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) in glioma angiogenesis, we examined whether its expression correlates with that of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α). Eighty-two specimens of human glioma and 7 of normal brain tissue were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for DLL4, VEGF and HIF-1α expression. Statistical analysis were performed to determine if protein expression correlated with clinicopathological parameters, including histological type, pathological grade, and microvessel density (MVD), determined using CD34-labelling. Expression of DLL4, VEGF and HIF-1α was very strong in gliomas, relative to normal tissues, linked with the malignant grade. Moreover, DLL4 staining positively correlated with VEGF and HIF-1α expression and with MVD. Thus our results indicate that DLL4 represents a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for glioma angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. lifenzhi@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Zhihua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Chengshi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005910:Glioma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C424126:DLL4 protein, human; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A