Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1alpha), and transforming growth factors beta1 (TGFbeta1) and beta3 (TGFbeta3) in gestational trophoblastic disease

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta3), and hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1alpha) in gestational trophoblastic diseases to highlight the possible histogenesis. Twenty-one partial hydatidiform moles (PHM), 19 complete hydatidiform moles (CHM), 13 choriocarcinomas, and 20 nonhydropic spontaneous abortions (control group) were evaluated with immunohistochemistry using VEGF, HIF-1alpha, TGFbeta1, and TGFbeta3. The extent of immunohistochemical positivity (0%=0, 1-24%=1, 25-49%=2, 50-74%=3, and greater than 75%=4) and intensity (no staining=0, weak staining=1, medium staining=2, and strong staining=3) were recorded. The expression of VEGF in spontaneous abortions and choriocarcinoma was higher than the expression in PHM and CHM. HIF-1alpha was strongly expressed in the choriocarcinomas compared to the other subgroups. Nonhydropic spontaneous abortions (control group) showed the highest TGFbeta1 expression levels among the case subgroups, followed by PHM, CHM, and choriocarcinoma (p<0.001). The expression of TGFbeta3 was seen in all groups, but the highest level of expression was observed in both CHM and choriocarcinoma. We conclude that higher levels of VEGF, HIF-1alpha, and TGFbeta3 expression in choriocarcinoma might be involved in the development of trophoblastic diseases.