title: Quantitative comparison of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in cutaneous lichen planus and psoriasis: immunohistochemical assessment.
abstract: Recent experimental studies revealed that angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are closely related to chronic inflammation. The present study aims to evaluate quantitative changes of blood and lymphatic microcirculatory beds in cutaneous lichen planus (CLP) and psoriatic lesions using immunohistochemical analysis with antibodies to CD34, D2-40 and VEGF. Morphometric software was used to determine the area of blood and lymphatic vessels (BVA and LVA) and also the VEGF positive area. Statistical analysis of these parameters confirmed a significant enlargement of both the blood and lymphatic microcirculatory beds in psoriatic and CLP lesions. BVA in CLP lesions was increased by 56% however this augmentation was not as great as in psoriatic lesions where BVA was increased by 123%. Interestingly, LVA in psoriatic and CLP lesions was increased equally by 85%. The strongest VEGF expression was detected in psoriatic lesions, with lower, but still significant, overexpression in CLP lesions. VEGF-C was significantly increased in both psoriatic and CLP lesions in comparable level. Noticeably higher VEGF and VEGF-C expression was observed in the epidermis than in the dermis. Finally, our results indicate that the level of angiogenesis is considerably greater in psoriatic lesions than in CLP lesions, but the level of lymphangiogenesis is equal in both psoriatic and CLP lesions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Martin, Slovak Republic. Electronic address: vybohova@lefa.sk.
authors.forename: Desanka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Výbohová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Martin, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Yvetta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mellová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Martin, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Katarína
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adamicová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Martin, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Marián
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adamkov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Martin, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hešková
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
keywords: Angiogenesis; Cutaneous lichen planus; Human skin; Lymphangiogenesis; Psoriasis