Correlation of integrinα4β1 and its two ligands with mast cell recruitment in the surroundings of rat liver tumor / 临床与实验病理学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose　To study the correlation of integrinα4β1 and its two ligands (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and fibronectin)with mast cell（MC）recruitment around the rat hepatocarcinoma. Methods　Eighteen male Wistar rats with liver tumor were divided into three different groups in terms of mast cell numbers in the surroundings of liver tumor. Eight normal Wistar rats were used as control. Integrin VLA-4 expression in rat peritoneal mast cells was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry was also used to investigate whether endothelial cell VCAM-1 and fibronection were expressed positively. Results　There were markedly different in mast cell numbers around rat liver tumor. Mast cells express high levels of integrin α4β1 on their surfaces. And the more mast cells around liver tumor, the higher levels of integrin VLA-4. We also found that endothelial cells expressed VCAM-1 and there are a number of fibronectin deposition around rat hepatocarcinoma. Conclusions　Integrin α4β1/VCAM-1 and fibronectin play an important role in mast cell recruitment mechanism around liver tumor. The expression levels of integrin α4β1 are paralleled by mast cell accumulation in the surroundings of hepotocarcinoma.