OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) expression, VEGFR-3 expression, lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSSeventy-six NSCLC samples were stained for VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and CD34 with immunohistochemical methods. Assessment of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and microvessel density (MVD) was performed. The expressions of VEGF-C in 24 fresh NSCLC samples were determined with Western blot assay.

RESULTSOf the 76 NSCLC cases, 55 were VEGF-C positive and 40 were VEGFR-3 positive in cancer cells. A significant positive correlation was found between VEGF-C expression and VEGFR-3 expression in cancer cells (P < 0.05). VEGF-C expression was negatively associated with differentiation of tumor cells (P < 0.05). VEGF-C expression and VEGFR-3 expression were positively associated with lymph node metastasis and lymphatic invasion (P < 0.05). LVD was positively related to VEGF-C expression, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion and clinical stage (P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between LVD and MVD (R = 0.732, P < 0.05). Patients with positive VEGF-C expression had worse outcomes than those with negative VEGF-C expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn NSCLC, VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 are related to the lymphangiogenesis, angiogenesis, and occurrence and development of lung cancers. VEGF-C expression could be a useful predictor of poor prognosis in NSCLC.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 ; biosynthesis

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) exerts its biological functions by its specific VEGF receptors (VEGFR), which includes VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, neuropilin-1, and neuropilin-2. These VEGFR distributes in endothelial cells, and are also expressed in normal skin, inflammatory skin diseases, and skin cancers. The VEGF-VEGFR signaling pathway may be a new key target in the management of the skin diseases.
Animals ; Humans ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; Signal Transduction ; Skin Diseases ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the expression and distribution of KDR, VEGF and CD34 in yolk sac and liver of human embryo at different development stage.

METHODSYolk sacs and livers of 15 human embryos were analyzed by the immunohistochemical SP kits for the expression of KDR, VEGF and CD34.

RESULTSKDR, VEGF and CD34 were all expressed in yolk sacs and livers of the embryos. In the intermediate liver group, the grey value of KDR and VEGF were 103.8 +/- 6.1 and 96.4 +/- 6.3, respectively, stronger than that in the late liver group which were 90.4 +/- 6.0 and 87.4 +/- 6.3, respectively (P < 0.05). A positive correlation between the levels of KDR and VEGF was observed (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of KDR and CD34 in yolk sac and liver of embryo suggests the presence of hemangioblast in these organs. Interaction of KDR and VEGF might relate to survival, proliferation, migration and differentiation of hemangioblasts.

Embryo, Mammalian ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; embryology ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; biosynthesis ; Yolk Sac ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between the expression of the kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) and the histological grade of prostate adenocarcinoma.

METHODSForty-eight samples of prostate adenocarcinoma tissues and 20 samples of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) tissues were studied by LsAB immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe positive expression rate of KDR was 73% in prostate adenocarcinoma and 30% in BPH. The expression of KDR was stronger in prostate adenocarcinoma, and there was no relationship between staining intensity and the histological grade of carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONKDR, expressed more highly in prostate adenocarcinoma, promises to be a new target in the treatment of prostate adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo study the expressions of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) in the testis, epididymis and epididymal sperm of adolescent rats and explore the functions of both the proteins in the male reproductive system.

METHODSThe expressions of VEGF and Flt-1 were detected in 20 adolescent SD rats, immunohistochemical staining used for both the testis and the epididymis and immunofluorescent staining for sperm.

RESULTSVEGF and Flt-1 proteins were specifically present in the testis, epididymis and sperm. In the testis, VEGF immunoreactive particles were localized in the cytoplasm of spermatogenic cells, the developing acrosome of spermatids, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells, while Flt-1 expressed mainly in the developing acrosome of spermatids and Leydig cells. In the epididymis, the cell-specific and region-specific expressions of VEGF and Flt-1 proteins were observed in the principal cells of epididymal epithelia, VEGF in the whole epididymis, while Flt-1 only in the caput and cauda segments. Both VEGF and Flt-1 were localized in the acrosome of the sperm head as well as in the neck, middle and principal segments of the sperm tail.

CONCLUSIONThe specific expression patterns of VEGF and Flt-1 in the rat testis, epididymis and sperm indicate that they may independently or collectively affect spermatogenesis and spermiotelcosis in either an autocrinological or a

Animals ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sexual Maturation ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Testis ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (BFGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and to evaluate their significance.

METHODSMVD and expression of VEGF and BFGF in cancerous tissues were examined in forty specimens resected from patients with HCC using immunohistochemical methods. Among these patients, 20 patients received 1 to 7 treatments of TACE prior to II-phase surgical resection (TACE group), the other 20 patients were treated by operation without receiving any other treatment preoperatively (surgical group). There was no significant difference in clinical features between the two groups. MVD was assessed by counting immunostained endothelial cells within a certain area, and staining intensity of VEGF was assessed quantitatively with computer-assisted image analyzer. The expression of BFGF was determined by cell-positive or cell-negative.

RESULTSThe average MVD was 130.51 75.5 in TACE group and 152.35 58.80 in surgical group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (t=-1.021, P=0.341). Staining intensity of VEGF was 645.60 543.27 in TACE group, higher than in surgical group (158.28 188.48, t=281, P<0.001). BFGF-positive rate was 35% in TACE group and 40% in surgical group. There was no significant difference (x(2)=0.107, P=0.744).

CONCLUSIONSThe results indicate that survived cancerous tissue has rich vascularity and the expression of VEGF of the cancerous cells can be enhanced by TACE which may play an important role in reestablishment of blood supply to tumor after TACE.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Catheterization ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; biosynthesis ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Lymphokines ; biosynthesis ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

In order to investigate the mechanism of elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in peritoneal fluids from patients with endometriosis, macrophages were recovered from peritoneal fluids obtained at the time of diagnostic laparoscopy from infertile women with endometriosis (EMT group, n=20) and without endometriosis (control group, n=20). Macrophages were cultured in vitro. The VEGF levels of peritoneal fluid and the supernatant of macrophages culture were determined by enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA). Meanwhile, the eutopic (n=20) and ectopic endometrium (n=20) from endometriosis patients, and normal edometrium (n=20) from non-endometriosis patients were obtained for the analysis of VEGF expression by labeled Streptavidin Biotin (LSAB). It was found that VEGF levels in peritoneal fluid and macrophages culture supernatant were significantly higher in EMT group than in control group (P<0.01). In normal endometrium, VEGF showed a cyclic changes and similar in eutopic and ectopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis. There was no difference in the intensity of VEGF in endometrium between two groups within each menstrual phase. It is suggested that altered VEGF production by peritoneal macrophages and ectopic endometrium secretion may contribute to the elevated VEGF levels in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid/*metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Endometriosis/*metabolism ; Macrophages, Peritoneal/pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TRT) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and their correlation in prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSTRT and VEGF expressions were assayed in 30 cases of PCa and 30 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by means of immunohistochemistry (SP) combined with computer assisted image analysis.

RESULTSThe expression of TRT was detected in 19 of the 30 cases of PCa and 5 of 30 cases of BPH, and that of VEGF in 23 of the 30 PCa and 14 of the 30 BPH patients. TRT and VEGF expressions were significantly higher in cancer tissues than in BPH (P < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between TRT and VEGF expressions (r = 0.8333, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of TRT or VEGF might be a malignant phenotype in PCa. The expression of TRT is significantly correlated with that of VEGF, but the mechanisms are yet to be further studied.

Animals ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Telomerase ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis

The current study was purposed to investigate the inhibitory effect of human soluble vascular endothelial growth factor-1 (sFLT-1) on the proliferation of leukemic cells in vitro. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the VEGF mRNA and VEGF-R1 (FLT-1) mRNA in K562, HL60, U937 leukemic cell lines and bone marrow LTC-IC. Flow cytometry was used to detect the VEGF and VEGF-R1 (FLT-1) in all above-mentioned cells. VEGF concentrations in the cell culture supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell proliferation was determined by MTT after adding sFLT-1 to K562, HL60 and LTC-IC culture system. The result showed that expression of VEGF could be detected in K562, HL60, U937 leukemic cell lines and LTC-IC, especially K562, K562 and HL60 cell lines also expressed FLT-1, but a little expression was found in U937 and LTC-IC. sFLT-1 could effectively inhibit the growth of K562 and HL60 cell lines in dose-dependent manner. The highest inhibition rate was found at 48 hours after adding sFLT-1. It is concluded that sFLT-1 can inhibit the growth of some leukemic cell lines, and the inhibition effect enhances as the concentration of the sFLT-1 increase, but sFLT -1 not influence the proliferation of normal marrow cells.
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; U937 Cells ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology

In order to study the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and its significance, the expression of VEGF mRNA and COX-2 mRNA in 62 cases of LSCC and 54 adjacent noncancerous laryngeal tissues and 9 normal human laryngeal mucous tissues was detected by using techniques of semi-quantitative RT-PCR. It was found that the expression level of VEGF and COX-2 mRNA was significantly increased in LSCC as compared with that in the normal human laryngeal mucous tissues (both P < 0.01), and the expression level of VEGF and COX-2 mRNA were significantly increased in stage Ill + IV tissues of LSCC as compared with the stage I + II tissues of LSCC (P < 0.01). There was a high positive correlation between VEGF and COX-2 expression in LSCC (r = 0.756, P < 0.01). These data raise the possibility that VEGF and COX-2 may play key roles in the growth, invasion and metastasis of LSCC.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2/*biosynthesis ; Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics ; Laryngeal Neoplasms/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Tumor Markers, Biological ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics