Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Monitoring Functionality and Morphology of Vasculature Recruited by Factors Secreted by Fast-growing Tumor-generating Cells
Published on: November 23, 2014
Microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in human radicular cysts
Filippo Graziani1, Michele Vano, Paolo Viacava
1Department of Neurosciences, Section of Oral Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. f.graziani@med.unipi.it
Purpose:
To assess vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and microvessel density (MVD) by immunohistochemistry and to relate them to the inflammatory status in a sample of radicular cysts.
Methods:
Specimens of 24 human radicular cysts were examined by immunohistochemistry using antibodies anti-VEGF and anti-CD34 and to evaluate vascular density. Integrity of the epithelium and inflammatory state of the connective tissues were evaluated and related with the immunohistochemical findings. A Spearman correlation test was utilized to compare the means of each parameter.
Results:
VEGF immunoreactivity was detected in both epithelial and connective tissues of radicular cysts. Stromal cells showed higher levels of VEGF expression when compared to epithelial cells. MVD proved to be related to VEGF expression levels (P < or = 0.01). In addition, increased MVD was associated with high levels of inflammation (P < or = 0.01). Most of the specimens showed a massive inflammatory infiltrate in the connective tissue. The integrity of the cystic lining tend to decrease with increased inflammation.
