A Study On Correlation Between Caspase-mediated Apoptosis And Pathogenesis Of Hemangiomas

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the expression of caspase-3 and pathogenesis , especially the spontaneous involution of hemangioma. METHODS: The pattern of caspase-3 expression was studied on specimens from 79 cases of hemangioma that spanned the natural life cycle of the tumor and 5 cases of controled normal skin using immunohistochemistry(SP method) The extent of apoptosis was analysised by TUNEL assay. RESULTS: The mean rank of caspase-3 expression in proliferative, involuting, involuted hemangiomas and controler groups was27.74,58.28,39.52,11.5,the expression of caspase-3 in involuting phase was higher than in proliferative phase(P<0.01).The apoptosis index(AI) assessed by TUNEL of four groups was 0.555±0.0875,18.074±0.6015,7.400±0.5340,0.086±0.0237,there was statistical difference between the former two groups(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that caspase-3 was involved in pathogenesis of hemangiomas and the switch from proliferating phase to involuting phase. We suggest that the activation of caspase-3 may induce apoptosis of endothelial cell, leading to the regression of the tumor.