Immunohistochemical study of tight junction-related protein in neovasculature in astrocytic tumor |
| |
Authors: | Tatsuo Sawada Yoichiro Kato Makio Kobayashi Yoshinori Takekekawa |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawadacho Shinjuku, 162-8666 Tokyo, Japan;(2) Department of Pathology, Yokosuka Municipal Hospital, Japan |
| |
Abstract: | To clarify whether the neovasculature of brain tumors preserves blood-brain barrier (BBB) functions, we studied the expression of a tight junction—related protein, Zo-1, using immunohistochemistry. Twenty-six astrocytic tumors were examined using an anti-Zo-1 Mab, and Zo-1 expression was compared with the expression of vasicular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) (flt-1), and antiproliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). A positive reaction for Zo-1 was seen in the endothelial cells in micro-blood vessels in all astrocytic tumors. The reactions for Zo-1 in the endothelial cells forming glomeruloid proliferations in newly formed micro-blood vessels in high-grade tumors were weaker than those in the endothelial cells of normal cerebral capillaries. Although there is a negative correlation between positive immunoreactions for BBB-related proteins and the expression of VEGF of the endothelial cells in micro-blood vessels, the proliferative activity of tumor cells, and histological grades, the present findings suggest that the endothelial cells of the neovasculature of high-grade tumors preserve partial BBB function at the cellular level. Because of the ease of immunohistochemical procedures compared with electron microscopic examination, the immunohistochemical detection of Zo-1 should provide a useful marker for tight junctions. |
| |
Keywords: | Blood-brain barrier Brain tumor Immunohistochemistry Neovasculature tight junction |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|