title: Abnormal expression of Tie1 on the valves of great saphenous varicose vein.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the abnormal expressions of Tie1 on the valves of great saphenous varicose vein, and to discuss the relationship between the phenomenon and pathogenesis of varicose vein of lower extremity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Varicose veins group 18 samples, normal control group 14 samples. Immunohistochemistry staining has investigated the expression of CD31 and Tie1 in the first valves of great saphenous veins. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has checked mRNA expression of Tie1. Western blot has checked the expression of Tie1 protein in venous valves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In normal control group valves, there was no difference between proximal and distal sides endothelium, which expressing CD31 in both valvar basement and valve cusp (positive endothelial cells [ECs] percentage: P > 0.05, P > 0.05). However, the endothelium of the proximal side demonstrates Tie1 stronger than distal side in valvar basement (positive ECs percentage: P < 0.05), which was not found at valve cusp (positive ECs percentage: P > 0.05). In varicose veins group, the endothelium of proximal side cells expresses CD31 weaker than distal side at both valvar basement and valve cusp (positive ECs percentage: P < 0.05, P < 0.05) besides the morphological alteration of valves. Moreover, it expresses Tie1 much weaker than diatal side (positive ECs percentage: P < 0.01). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that valves of varicose veins group expressed Tie1 much weaker than the normal control group (P < 0.01). Western blot could not detect the expression of Tie1 in venous valves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decreasing expression of Tie1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary lower extremity varicose veins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical College of Nanjing University.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Changjian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qiao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042810:Receptor, TIE-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042810:Receptor, TIE-1