The Expressions of Nerve Growth Factor and Its Receptor p75NGFR in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Their Relation with the Clinicopathologic Factors

BACKGROUND: Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been suggested to participate in tumor progression and it can interact with its receptor p75NGFR. In the present study, we investigated the expressions of NGF and p75NGFR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We performed immunohistochemistry for NGF, p75NGFR and PCNA in 45 cases of HCCs, and examined the relationships between the clinicopathologic factors and the immunohistochemical results. RESULTS: NGF was detected in 84.4% (38/45) of the tumor cells and in 64.4% (29/45) of the non-tumorous hepatocytes. Furthermore, a NGF expression was present in 28.9% (13/45) of the endothelial cells in the HCCs, but in 80% (36/45) of the endothelial cells in the non-tumor liver tissue. The tumor cells were negative for p75NGFR in all the HCCs. Although a p75NGFR expression was present in all the nerve fibers in the non-tumor liver tissues, it was markedly reduced (42.2%; 19/45) in the HCCs and a p75NGFR expression was observed at the sinusoids or around the large vessels. The HCCs expressing NGF, either in the tumor cells or the endothelial cells, showed a larger size than those HCCs that didn't express NGF. The NGF positive tumors showed a tendency toward a higher PCNA-labeling index than did the negative tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The changed localization of the NGF expression and the decreased expression of p75NGFR are associated with hepatic carcinogenesis. We suggest that a NGF expression may contribute to the progression of HCC.

Expression of Nerve Growth Factor Receptors: P75 Neurotrophin Receptor and Tyrosine Kinase A in Lesions of Psoriasis Vulgaris / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the expression of nerve growth factor receptors, P75 neurotrophin receptor (P75~(NTR)) and tyrosine kinase A (TrkA), and to explore their role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris. Methods In situ hydridization and immunohistochemical technique were used respectively to detect the expression of P75~(NTH) and TrkA mRNA and proteins in lesional and non-lesional skins of 38 patients with psoriasis vulgaris (21 cases in progressive stage, 17 cases in static stage), and in normal skins of 10 healthy controls. Results In the case of expression of P75~(NTR) and TrkA mRNA and proteins, patients had significantly higher level than the normal control (P

The Correlation Between Mood Disorders and Nerve Growth Factor Receptor Expression in Lesions of Psoriasis / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of mood disorders in psoriatic patients.Methods The expression of nerve growth factor receptor p75(NGFR p75)and p140trkA were detected by immunohistochemical technique.The patients' mood was measured with self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)and self-rating depression scale(SDS).Results There is a positive correlation of the expressions of NGFR p75and p140trkA with the patients' mood disorders in psoriatic patients.Conclusion NGF and its receptors are the important substance served as a mediator of the mood disorders affecting psoriatic patients' condition.