[Expression of cellular adhesion molecules and HLA-DR antigen on vascular endothelial cells in hemangiomas.].

PURPOSE: To investigate the expression and function of the adhesion molecules ICAM-3, CD34 and HLA-DR antigen on endothelial cells of hemangiomas in different stages. METHODS: SABC immunohistochemical technique was used to examine the expression of ICAM-3, CD34 and HLA-DR on vascular endothelial cells. Seventy-six specimens including 28 proliferating hemangiomas, 22 involuting hemangiomas, 18 vascular deformity and 8 normal skin tissue were obtained from infants and children for the experiment. RESULTS: The results showed: (1) both ICAM-3 and CD34 had high expression in proliferating hemangiomas, but poor or even no expression in involuting hemangiomas. There was a significant difference (P<0.001) between the two phases. Both ICAM-3 and CD34 had almost no expression in vascular deformity and normal skin tissue, significantly different from hemangiomas (P<0.001).(2) HLA-DR expression was closely related to the high differentiation phase of vascular epithelial cells. In the proliferating phase, HLA-DR didn't express, while it expressed highly as endothelial cells were in well-matured involuting phase. These differences were significant (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: ICAM-3 and CD34 might play a role in the early stage of angiogenesis and take part in the pathological genesis and regression process of hemangiomas by regulating endothelial cells adhesion; HLA-DR might be related either to acquisition of a mature phenotype or to an activated state of the endothelial cells.