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Clinical Trial
. 2005 Jul;6(7):693-8.
doi: 10.1631/jzus.2005.B0693.

Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and vascular endothelial growth factor in association with neovascularization in human primary astrocytoma

Jian-Wei Pan  1 , Ren-ya Zhan, Ying Tong, Yong-qing Zhou, Ming Zhang
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and vascular endothelial growth factor in association with neovascularization in human primary astrocytoma

Jian-Wei Pan et al. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2005 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis in primary astrocytoma.

Methods: Thirty-seven primary astrocytomas and 4 astrocytic hyperplasia samples were collected and divided into three groups according to histological grade. The expression of eNOS, VEGF and factor VIII related antigen (FVIIIRAg) were assayed by immunohistochemistry. Microvascular density was assessed by FVIIIRAg immunoreactivity. The intensity of immunoreactivity was graded according to the percentage of positive tumor cells.

Results: No eNOS and VEGF were expressed in the astrocytes and vascular endothelium in astrocytic hyperplasia. The expression of eNOS or VEGF was light in low-grade astrocytoma and strong in glioblastoma. eNOS expression in astrocytoma was very positively correlated with VEGF. eNOS and VEGF expression in anaplastic astrocytoma was median in contrast to the low grade astrocytoma and glioblastoma. Lower microvascular density was found in low grade astrocytoma than that in higher grade malignant ones. The expressions of eNOS and VEGF were correlated with microvascular density and tumor malignancy.

Conclusion: This finding suggests that eNOS and VEGF may have cooperative effect in tumor angiogenesis and play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary astrocytoma.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(a) Low grade astrocytoma: Light and few expressions of eNOS in tumor cell, but comparatively strong in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (b) Glioblastoma: eNOS strongly expressed in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (c) Glioblastoma: Glomerulus-like eNOS positive vascular structure (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (d) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of eNOS in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (e) Low grade astrocytoma: Light expression of VEGF in a few tumor cells, but obvious in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (f) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of VEGF in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400)
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(a) Low grade astrocytoma: Light and few expressions of eNOS in tumor cell, but comparatively strong in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (b) Glioblastoma: eNOS strongly expressed in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (c) Glioblastoma: Glomerulus-like eNOS positive vascular structure (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (d) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of eNOS in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (e) Low grade astrocytoma: Light expression of VEGF in a few tumor cells, but obvious in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (f) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of VEGF in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400)
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(a) Low grade astrocytoma: Light and few expressions of eNOS in tumor cell, but comparatively strong in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (b) Glioblastoma: eNOS strongly expressed in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (c) Glioblastoma: Glomerulus-like eNOS positive vascular structure (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (d) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of eNOS in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (e) Low grade astrocytoma: Light expression of VEGF in a few tumor cells, but obvious in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (f) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of VEGF in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400)
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(a) Low grade astrocytoma: Light and few expressions of eNOS in tumor cell, but comparatively strong in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (b) Glioblastoma: eNOS strongly expressed in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (c) Glioblastoma: Glomerulus-like eNOS positive vascular structure (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (d) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of eNOS in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (e) Low grade astrocytoma: Light expression of VEGF in a few tumor cells, but obvious in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (f) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of VEGF in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400)
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(a) Low grade astrocytoma: Light and few expressions of eNOS in tumor cell, but comparatively strong in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (b) Glioblastoma: eNOS strongly expressed in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (c) Glioblastoma: Glomerulus-like eNOS positive vascular structure (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (d) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of eNOS in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (e) Low grade astrocytoma: Light expression of VEGF in a few tumor cells, but obvious in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (f) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of VEGF in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400)
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(a) Low grade astrocytoma: Light and few expressions of eNOS in tumor cell, but comparatively strong in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (b) Glioblastoma: eNOS strongly expressed in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (c) Glioblastoma: Glomerulus-like eNOS positive vascular structure (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (d) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of eNOS in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (e) Low grade astrocytoma: Light expression of VEGF in a few tumor cells, but obvious in the vascular endothelial cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400); (f) Anaplastic astrocytoma: Median expression of VEGF in tumor cells (immunohistochemical staining ×400)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The obvious positive correlation of the expression of eNOS and VEGF eNOS-ir: Labelling index of eNOS; VEGF-ir: Labelling index of VEGF; Cases 1–4: Astrocytic hyperplasia; Cases 5–10: Low-grade astrocytoma; Cases 11–22: Anaplastic astrocytoma; Cases 23–41: Glioblastoma
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