Expression of the endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2 in lobular capillary hemangioma of the oral mucosa: an immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND

Lobular capillary hemangioma (LCH) usually occurs in the skin or mucous membranes as a rapidly growing red nodule. LCH is one of the most common vascular lesions in the oral mucosa. Tie2 is a novel, human endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase which may play an important role in blood vessel formation. In this study, we investigated its immunohistochemical expression in LCH of the oral mucosa.

METHODS

Double immunostaining with anti-CD34 and antialpha smooth muscle actin (SMA) antibodies was performed to characterize the cellular expression of Tie2 in 15 cases of this condition.

RESULTS

We found Tie2 immunoreactivity in the ovoid cells only, which were frequently intermingled with alphaSMA-positive cells, especially in the hypercellular portion of LCH.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the expression of Tie2 in ovoid cells and the interaction between ovoid cells and alphaSMA-positive cells play an important part in the development and progression of LCH.