Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its endothelial cell receptor KDR in type 1 leprosy reaction.

Paolo Fiallo Centro Nazionale di Riferimento per la Malattia di Hansen e la Dermatologia Tropicale CIRLEP, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università di Genova, Italy.

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Andrea Clapasson Centro Nazionale di Riferimento per la Malattia di Hansen e la Dermatologia Tropicale CIRLEP, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università di Genova, Italy.

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Anna Favre Centro Nazionale di Riferimento per la Malattia di Hansen e la Dermatologia Tropicale CIRLEP, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università di Genova, Italy.

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Carlo Pesce Centro Nazionale di Riferimento per la Malattia di Hansen e la Dermatologia Tropicale CIRLEP, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università di Genova, Italy.

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2002.66.180
Volume/Issue:
Volume 66: Issue 2
Page(s):
180–185
Restricted access
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The sites of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and of KDR, its endothelial cell receptor, were investigated in leprosy reaction Type 1, or reversal reaction (RR), by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. In comparison with nonreactional leprosy, overexpression of both VEGF and KDR was seen in granuloma cells, especially epithelioid and foreign body-type giant cells, the epithelium and the vascular endothelium of RR specimens. In granuloma cells, hybridization for VEGF was stronger than immunostaining, a finding that may reflect the rapid turnover of VEGF in an immunologically dynamic situation such as RR. In the epidermis, double immunohistochemistry revealed VEGF overexpression in CDla-positive dendritic cells. The VEGF may not only be relevant for hyperpermeability and mononuclear cell differentiation (the key morphologic features in the acute, clinically evident phase of RR), but it could also be implicated in RR onset, when dendritic cells are activated in response to antigen stimulation.

Published Online:
Feb 2002
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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