Microvascular changes in relation to inflammation and epidermal hyperplasia in chronic cutaneous lesions of psoriasis vulgaris

Epidermal proliferation, inflammatory changes and microvascular augmentation are prominent features of chronic cutaneous psoriatic lesions. The objective of this study was the investigation of blood and lymphatic microvascular changes in relation to epidermal changes and inflammatory infiltration in dermis. Immunohistochemical analysis with antibodies to CD34, podoplanin, vascular endothelial growth factorsA and C (VEGF-A and C) and morphometric software were used for quantification of the following parameters: blood and lymphatic vessel area (BVA and LVA), VEGF-A and VEGF-C positive area, inflammatory cell infiltration in dermis (CIA) and epidermal area (EA). In comparison to healthy skin psoriatic lesions showed remarkable elevation of all measured parameters with the following average increase: BVA (2.8-times increased), LVA (2.6-times increased), VEGF-A and VEGF-C area (in epidermis 29-times and 19-times increased, in dermis 25-times and 15-times increased, respectively ), and EA (3-times increased). Statistical analysis revealed significant positive correlation between CIA and EA in psoriatic samples. Blood vessels area and VEGF-A expression in epidermis showed mild positive correlation with epidermal hyperplasia and weak positive correlation with dermal inflammatory infiltration. VEGF-A expression in epidermis also significantly correlated with blood vessels area. As for the lymphatic microcirculation we found a statistically significant positive correlation between lymphatic vessels area and the cellular infiltration in dermis but only weak correlation with epidermal hyperplasia. We hypothesize that angiogenesis in psoriasis is to a greater extent responding to epidermal hyperplasia and in a lesser way to inflammatory infiltration in dermis. However, lymphangiogenesis is significantly related to dermal inflammatory infiltration

MISMATCH REPAIR PROTEINS AND SURVIVIN IN ADENOMATOUS COLON POLYPS WITH LOW GRADE AND HIGH GRADE DYSPLASIA: AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY. Las proteínas para la reparación de desajustes y survivin en pólipos adenomatosos de colon con displasias de bajo y a

Objective: The aim of our study was to observe the immunohistochemical expression pattern of mismatch repair proteins (MMRP) MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2, as well as survivin, in colon polyps. Methods: We assessed above mentioned proteins in a unified group of 124 tubular adenomatous colon polyps with regard to the presence of dysplastic abnormalities in order to explore their relationship. Furthermore, we studied their relation to such clinicomorphological parameters as the age of patients, size of adenoma, degree of dysplastic changes and localization of the lesion. Results: Survivin was expressed in 97 cases (78.2%), MLH1 was found in 111 cases (89.5%), MSH2 in 115 cases (92.7%), MSH6 in 118 cases (95.2%) and PMS2 in 105 cases (84.7%). The majority of absent MMRP cases was detected where the adenoma size was less than 10 mm with LGD (low-grade dysplasia). Survivin expression significantly correlated with the adenoma size and dysplasia grade. Subcellular survivin compartmentalization was statistically associated with the adenoma size, dysplasia grade and adenoma localization. Furthermore, we confirmed a significant relation between survivin expression and MMRP. In general, the intensity of immunoreaction was stronger in the MMRP than in survivin. Conclusions: Our recent results suggest that MMRP may suppress the antiapoptotic activity of survivin in LGD and HGD (high grade dysplasia) colon adenomas.   Antecedentes: Las proteínas de reparación de desajustes (MMRP) y survivin representan señales diametralmente opuestas que pueden controlar las vías apoptóticas. Además, se sabe que tanto MMRP como survivin son poderosos parámetros pronósticos. Material y métodos: El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue observar el patrón de expresión inmunohistoquímica de MMRP MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 y PMS2, y survivin en un grupo unificado de 124 adenomatosos pólipos tubulares de colon con respecto a la presencia de anomalías displásicas para explorar sus relaciones. Además, estudiamos su relación con los parámetros clinicomorfológicos, como la edad de los pacientes, el tamaño del adenoma, el grado de cambios displásicos y la localización de la lesión. Resultados: Survivin se expresó en 97 casos (78.2%), MLH1 se encontró en 111 casos (89.5%), MSH2 en 115 casos (92.7%), MSH6 en 118 casos (95.2%) y PMS2 en 105 casos (84.7%). La mayoría de los casos ausentes de MMRP se detectaron en un tamaño de adenoma inferior a 10 mm, estos casos se asociaron principalmente con displasia de bajo grado y fueron más frecuentes en el colon distal. La expresión de survivin se correlacionó significativamente con el tamaño del adenoma y el grado de displasia. La compartimentalización de survivin subcelular se asoció estadísticamente con el tamaño del adenoma, el grado de displasia y localización del adenoma. Además, confirmamos una relación significativa entre la expresión de survivin y el MMRP. En general, la intensidad de la inmunorreacción fue más fuerte en MMRP en comparación con la intensidad del survivin. Conclusiones: Con base en nuestros resultados recientes, sugerimos que el MMRP puede suprimir la actividad antiapoptótica del survivin en los adenomas de colon con displasias de bajo y alto grado

Quantitative immunohistochemical assessment of blood and lymphatic microcirculation in cutaneous lichen planus lesions

Latest advances have brought to light the hypothesis that angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are tightly connected to some chronic inflammatory diseases. The present study focuses on immunohistochemical assessment of the quantitative changes in the blood and lymphatic microcirculatory bed in common chronic dermatosis - cutaneous lichen planus. Double immunohistochemistry with CD34 and podoplanin antibodies was used to detect blood and lymphatic endothelium, while anti-human VEGF was used for the observation of a key angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis inducer. Morphometric analysis was performed with QuickPhoto Micro image analysis software. Results confirmed statistically significant enlargement of both the blood and lymphatic microcirculatory beds. Compared to healthy skin, cutaneous lichen planus lesions revealed 1.6 times enlarged blood microcirculatory bed and 1.8 times enlarged lymphatic microcirculatory bed. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in lesional skin was significantly higher in the epidermis (19.1 times increase) than in the dermis (10.3 times increase). These findings indicate a tight association of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis with the pathogenesis of cutaneous lichen planus

Quantitative changes of the capillary bed in aging human skin

The present study focuses on the quantitative changes of the capillary bed in aging human skin. Forty-five skin samples were excised from the anterior thoracic region of cadavers of caucasian origin in the age range 33-82 years. The immunohistochemical method with anti-human CD34 was used for the detection of the capillary endothelium. Morphometric analysis was done by Vision Assistant software. The capillary bed was quantified by two parameters: capillary area (CA) and intercapillary distance (ID) in 6 age groups. Results revealed no quantitative changes of the capillary bed up to the age of 60 years. In the papillary dermis a significant reduction of the capillary area was seen in the 7th, 8th and 9th decennium. A considerable decrease, by 33%, was determined in the 7th decennium. During the 8th and 9th decennium the capillary area was reduced by a further 19% and 13%. In total from the 4th till the 9th decennium, the capillary bed in the papillary dermis was diminished by 65%. The intercapillary distance in the papillary dermis singnificantly increased during the 8th decennium. On the basis of the mutual evaluation of both the observed parameters, CA and ICD, the authors supposed that the reduction of the capillary bed in the papillary dermis during the 7th decennium was probably caused only by the shortening of the capillary loops, which copied flattened dermal papillae, and during the 8th decennium also by the decreased number of the capillary loops. In the reticular dermis the capillary bed remained unchange