Immunohistochemistry of angiogenesis mediators before and after pulsed dye laser treatment of angiomas.
OBJECTIVE
Tissue effects of vascular lesion laser treatment are incompletely understood. Injury caused by pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment may result in altered expression of mediators associated with angiogenesis.


METHODS
Eight human subjects had one angioma treated with PDL (7 mm, 1.5 millisecond pulse duration, 9 J/cm(2), cryogen spray cooling of 30 millisecond with a 30 millisecond delay). One week later, three biopsies were taken: normal skin, untreated angioma, angioma post-PDL. Tissue was frozen and sections processed for immunohistochemistry staining of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and angiopoietin 2 (ANG-2). Images were graded in a blinded fashion by a board certified dermatopathologist.


RESULTS
There were no clear trends in VEGF expression in the epidermis, dermis, or endothelial cells. As compared to normal skin, angiomas demonstrated the following: bFGF was decreased in the epidermis; MMP-9 was decreased or unchanged in the epidermis and increased in the endothelial cells; ANG-2 was increased in the endothelial cells. When comparing normal skin to angiomas + PDL, bFGF was decreased in the epidermis and increased in the dermis; MMP-9 was decreased or unchanged in the epidermis; ANG-2 was again increased in the endothelial cells. Comparison of staining in angioma to angioma + PDL samples revealed increased dermal bFGF expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Alterations in angiogenesis mediators were noted after PDL. Angiogenesis mediator changes associated with PDL treatment differed from those previously reported for incisional biopsies. This pilot study can guide future work on laser-induced alterations in vascular lesions and such information may ultimately be used to optimize treatment outcomes.
Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. vlaquer@uci.edu
Vivian T
VT
Laquer
Belinda M
BM
Dao
Janelle M
JM
Pavlis
Amy N
AN
Nguyen
Tina S
TS
Chen
Ronald M
RM
Harris
Elizabeth L
EL
Rugg
Kristen M
KM
Kelly
D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D054025:Lasers, Dye; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9