Study of the etiopathogenesis and differential diagnosis of oral vascular lesions by immunoexpression of GLUT-1 and HIF-1α.

BACKGROUND

To investigate whether the immunohistochemical expression of GLUT-1 and HIF-1α is related to the diagnosis and pathogenesis of oral vascular lesions.

STUDY

METHODS

Thirty cases each of pyogenic granuloma (PG) and hemangioma were studied. Antibodies against GLUT-1 and HIF-1α were detected by immunoperoxidase staining in 3-μm histological sections, and the results were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, respectively. Positive and negative cells were counted, and the mean number of positive cells was calculated for each case.

RESULTS

The initial diagnosis of hemangioma was maintained in only 7 (23%) of the 30 cases studied, which were positive for GLUT-1. The remaining 23 cases were reclassified as vascular malformation (VM) (n = 13) and PG (n = 10) due to the absence of staining. The endothelium of blood vessels was negative for GLUT-1 in all cases initially diagnosed as PG (n = 30). The percentage of HIF-1α-positive cells was higher in cases of PG, followed by hemangiomas and VMs (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Histological features are not sufficient to establish the correct diagnosis of oral hemangiomas, and an accurate anamnesis is essential in these cases. In addition, these findings demonstrate that vascular lesions express mediators of angiogenesis, HIF-1α, and suggest that his process may play a role in the pathogenesis of vascular.