title: Heparanase expression in Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
abstract: Heparanase is an endo-beta D-glucuronidase capable of cleaving heparan sulfate side chains, yielding heparan sulfate fragments. Heparanase activity has been correlated with the metastatic potential of tumor-derived cells, angiogenesis, autoimmunity and inflammation. We performed a study of heparanase expression in specimens obtained from patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Paraffin embedded slides from 25 patients were studied by immunohistochemistry for heparanase. Most patients had positive staining for heparanase (21/25). There was no positive association with severity of disease and other clinical characteristics. Further studies are required to clarify the role of heparanase in the pathogenesis of LCH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dvir
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vlodavsky
authors.forename: Neta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ilan
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bitan
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Issacov
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Elhasid
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult; D000099175:Heparanase
chemical_list: D005966:Glucuronidase; D000099175:Heparanase
keywords: Langerhans; heparanase; histiocytosis