Expression of CD34,α-Smooth Muscle Actin and Transforming Growth Factor-β1 in Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix

Abstract

This retrospective study investigated CD34, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression in stromal cells of cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CINs; n = 30), invasive cervical squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs; n = 38) and adjacent normal cervix. Normal cervix and CINs contained diffuse CD34-positive stromal cells but no α-SMA-positive myofibroblasts. In contrast, 34 of 38 SCCs were free of CD34-positive stromal cells and all contained α-SMA-positive stromal myofibroblasts; adjacent normal tissue contained CD34-positive stromal cells and no α-SMA-positive myofibroblasts. More intense TGF-β1 expression was observed in SCC cells than in normal cervical epithelium or CINs. This study shows that the disappearance of CD34-positive stromal cells and appearance of α-SMA-positive stromal myofibroblasts may be associated with transformation of cervical CIN to SCC. These findings support the suggestion that over-production of TGF-β1 in SCC cells is one potential mechanism mediating the transformation of stromal cells to myofibroblasts in cervical carcinogenesis.

Keywords

Cervix Stromal cell Myofibroblast Intraepithelial neoplasia Squamous cell carcinoma CD34 Smooth muscle actin

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