title: Molecular and immunohistochemical expression of apoptotic proteins Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase 3 in infantile hemangioma tissues as an effect of propranolol treatment.
abstract: Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common benign tumors of childhood. They are characterized by a unique clinical course with two phases, proliferation and involution, which are followed by regression. The therapy of infantile hemangiomas was revolutionized in 2008 by the introduction of propranolol, however, the mechanism of its influence on hemangiomas remains unclear.
  
  
  
  The study included 71 patients with IHs, 27 of whom were treated with propranolol while the remaining 44 were used as a comparative group. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase3 was determined with immunohistochemistry and mRNA of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase3 were assessed with the use of RT-PCR.
  
  
  
  Both methods revealed a statistically significant decrease in Bcl-2 expression and an increase in Bax in IHs tissues after propranolol treatment.
  
  
  
  The results obtained for Bax and Bcl-2 proteins may indicate a link between the effect of propranolol and apoptosis. Higher Bax and lower Bcl-2 expression in the propranolol treated group indicates a strong pro- apoptotic action countering any anti-apoptotic activity; apoptosis was indicted in IH tissue as a potential result of propranolol treatment, with potential clinical impact in other tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery and Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Sporna str. 36/50, 91-738 Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wnęk
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery and Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Sporna str. 36/50, 91-738 Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andrzejewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Pathology, Medical University of Lodz, Sporna str. 36/50, 91-738 Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Józef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kobos
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska str. 251, 92-216 Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: dr.taran.patho@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taran
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery and Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Sporna str. 36/50, 91-738 Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Przewratil
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D011433:Propranolol; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Apoptosis; Bax; Bcl-2; Caspase3; Infantile hemangioma; Propranolol