Expression Of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor In Esophagealsquamous Cell Carcinoma And The Its Role In Tumor Angiogenesis

Objective:This study was designed to examine the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and several carcinogenesis related proteins, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and P53, and the microvessel density (MVD) levels in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues, and to investigate the potential role of MIF in the ESCC angiogenesis.Method:The expression of MIF,VEGF,P53 and CD34 in ESCC(54 cases) and non-tumor esophageal tissues (12 cases) was examined by immunohistochemical staining (S-P), and the MVD was counted according to CD34 staining.Results:1. The expression of MIF were found in ESCC and control groups, while the expression level in ESCC was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). In control group, the positive immunological reaction was found only in the malpighian layer of mucous membrane.2. No correlation was found between the MIF expression and the age,sex,differentiation or TNM classification of ESCC patients (P<0.05).3. The positive immunological reaction of VEGF was stronger in ESCC group (79.6%, 43/54) than that in control group (33.3%, 4/12) (P<0.05); while the expression levels of P53 were also higher in ESCC group (66.7%, 36/54) than that in control group (33.3%, 4/12) (P<0.05). The MVD mean levels (Weidner method)in ESCC group (19.19±6.17) were higher than that in control group (11.35±3.32) (P<0.05), which were counted according to the CD34 positive reaction.4. Positive correlation was found between MIF expression level and VEGF expression, P53 expression or MVD levels in all detected samples (including ESCC and control group) (P<0.05), while only the VEGF and P53 expressions showed positive related to MIF expression in ESCC group (P<0.05). Positive correlation was found between VEGF and P53 expression levels in either all detected samples or ESCC group (P<0.05).5. Correlation between the expression levels of MIF and CD34 was found in neither all detected samples nor ESCC group by partial correction analysis when the VEGF and P53 factors were fixed (P>0.05).Conclusion:The up-regulation of MIF expression is a key molecular event in the carcinogenesis of ESCC. Though no correlation was found between the MIF expression and the age,sex,differentiation or TNM classification of ESCC patients, our result suggested that MIF was involved into the angiogenesis of ESCC, and may play a positive role by improving VEGF expression and P53 mutation.