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Enhanced CD34 expression of sinusoid-like vascular endothelial cells in hepatocellular carcinoma
1Department of Pathology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
CD34 and laminin expression changes in liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) indicate altered endothelial cell function. These markers may reflect angiogenesis during hepatocarcinogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Oncology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Sinusoidal endothelial cells in normal liver lack CD34 and laminin expression.
- Chronic liver diseases show sparse CD34 and laminin in capillarized sinusoids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate CD34 and laminin expression in chronic liver diseases and HCC.
- To differentiate non-cancerous sinusoids from sinusoid-like tumor vessels in HCC.
- To correlate marker expression with angiogenesis in hepatocarcinogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of CD34 and laminin.
- Study of liver tissues from normal, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and HCC patients.
Main Results:
- Normal liver sinusoids are negative for CD34 and laminin.
- Early HCC shows variable CD34 expression; advanced HCC shows strong diffuse CD34.
- Laminin is strongly expressed in advanced HCC but not early HCC.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced CD34 expression in sinusoidal endothelial cells suggests phenotypic changes in chronic liver disease and HCC.
- CD34 and laminin expression correlates with angiogenesis in hepatocarcinogenesis.
Abstract:
The immunohistochemical expression of CD34 (human hematopoietic stem cell and endothelial cell marker) and laminin were studied in chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to elucidate whether their expression reflected phenotypic differences between non-cancerous sinusoids and sinusoid-like tumor vessels. In normal liver, hepatic sinusoids were always negative for CD34 and laminin. In chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, the two antigens were sparsely expressed in capillarized sinusoids at periportal and perinodular area. In advanced HCC, CD34 was strongly and diffusely expressed by the endothelial lining of sinusoid-like tumor vessels. However, early-stage HCC showed a wide spectrum of CD34 expression from negative to focal and diffuse, strongly positive staining in sinusoid-like vessels. Laminin was strongly expressed in advanced HCC but not in early-stage HCC. The results indicate that the enhanced expression of CD34 by sinusoidal endothelial cells may reflect the phenotypic change of endothelial cells in chronic liver diseases and HCC, and that the expression may correlate with the processes of angiogenesis induced by hepatocarcinogenesis.