Lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in non-phymatous rosacea

• Published in: Journal of cutaneous pathology 2007-10, Vol.34 (10), p.748-753
• Main Authors: Gomaa, Amal H. A., Yaar, Mina, Eyada, Moustafa M. K., Bhawan, Jag
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal - metabolism; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - metabolism; Dermatology; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Humans; Lymphangiogenesis; Lymphatic Vessels - metabolism; Lymphatic Vessels - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic - complications; Neovascularization, Pathologic - metabolism; Neovascularization, Pathologic - pathology; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - metabolism; Rosacea - complications; Rosacea - metabolism; Rosacea - pathology; Skin - blood supply; Skin - pathology; Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism
• ISSN: 0303-6987; 1600-0560
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2006.00695.x

Background:  Our study evaluated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD31 and D2‐40 in involved and uninvolved skin of 18 patients with rosacea. Methods:  Immunostaining of facial skin specimens with VEGF, CD31 and D2‐40 was compared between the lesional and the non‐lesional skin of patients with erythemotelangiectatic and papulopustular rosacea. Results:  Significantly increased dermal expression of VEGF in lesional vs. non‐lesional skin (88.9% and 55.6%) was observed. Dermal expression of CD31 and D2‐40 was also increased in lesional vs. non‐lesional skin. There was no statistically significant difference in cutaneous expression of VEGF, CD31 and D2‐40 between patients with papulopustular and erythemotelangiectatic rosacea, and no correlation was found between disease duration and immunoreactivity of VEGF, CD31or D2‐40. Conclusions:  Our study showed marked immunostaining of lesional skin with VEGF, CD31 and D2‐40 compared with non‐lesional skin. Increased immunoreactivity of D2‐40 in lesional skin is interesting, given that none of the patients had facial edema. There are no published data regarding the role of lymphangiogenesis in patients with non‐phymatous rosacea; thus, our study represents a new understanding of its pathogenesis. Lack of correlation between D2‐40 expression and disease duration suggests that lymphatics are involved early in the pathogenesis of rosacea and do not constitute a late event.