BACKGROUNDThe gene expressions of the two primary cell types with different morphological phenotypes,namely,cuboidal cells and polygonal cells in so-called pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma(PSH) were still unclear now.Disclosing the different gene expression of the two cell types will provide the basis for the study of histogenesis of PSH tissue and be helpful for differential diagnosis.

METHODSPolygonal and cuboidal cells were obtained from PSH tissue using a laser capture microdissection(LCM) technique.Total RNA was extracted and mRNA levels of cytokeratin(CK),epithelial membrane antigen(EMA),vimentin(VT),surfactant protein B(SP-B),thyroid transcription factor-1(TTF-1),synaptophysin(Syn),and chromogranin A(Ch-A) were analyzed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe CK,EMA and SP-B genes were clearly expressed in cuboidal cells,while the VT and Syn genes were clearly expressed and the EMA gene was weakly expressed in polygonal cells.TTF-1 was expressed in both cell types,while neither cell type expressed ChA.

CONCLUSIONSThe differences in morphological phenotype might result from differences in the state of differentiation,cuboidal cells may differentiate into type II pneumocytes,while polygonal cells in stroma possess the multipotency differentiation.