losartan-potassium and Vestibular-Diseases

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha, erythropoietin (Epo), Epo receptor (EpoR), and bcl-2 are expressed in both sporadic unilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs) and those associated with neurofibromatosis Type 2, and the expression data correlate with clinicopathological tumor features including microvessel density and Ki-67-labeling index.. Erythropoietin expression is regulated by the transcription factor, HIF-1alpha. Erythropoietin signaling via EpoR results in stimulation of cell proliferation and elevated expression of the antiapoptotic protein, bcl-2, and then inhibition of apoptosis. Erythropoietin has been shown to be associated with Schwann cell proliferation, and a recent report suggested a role in VS growth.. Immunohistochemical analysis of HIF-1alpha, Epo, EpoR, and bcl-2 was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archival surgical specimens. Microvessel density and Ki-67-labeling index of VS were analyzed and correlated with the immunoreactivity pattern of the examined factors.. Immunoreactivity data demonstrate robust protein expression for HIF-1alpha, Epo, EpoR, and bcl-2 in VS. Sixty-six percent of the cases showed Epo expression, and EpoR was found in 85% of tumor samples. A significantly positive correlation of the immunoreactivity scores of Epo/EpoR and bcl-2 expression could be noted. In case of tumor specimens with high levels of HIF-1alpha expression, a significantly higher Ki-67-labeling index was observed. There was no correlation between the expression of HIF-1alpha, Epo, EpoR, and bcl-2 and microvessel density, tumor size, sex, and age.. Expression of Epo and EpoR might suggest a functional role in VS biology. The observed correlation of Epo/EpoR and bcl-2 expression levels may suggest a proliferative and antiapoptotic role of the Epo/EpoR system in VS.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Capillaries; Cell Proliferation; Disease Progression; Ear Neoplasms; Erythropoietin; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, bcl-2; Humans; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Immunohistochemistry; Ki-67 Antigen; Male; Microsurgery; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Neuroma, Acoustic; Receptors, Erythropoietin; Vestibular Diseases