Immunohistochemical Analysis of Midkine Expression in Squamous Cell Lesions of Uterine Cervix

초록

Multiple growth factors have been strongly implicated in a number of cellular processes, including tumorigenesis, tumor metastasis, and angiogenesis. Midkine (MK) is a one of secreted polypeptide growth factors, and plays important roles in development and early stages of carcinogenesis by modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, angiogeneis and antiapoptotic function. To investigate expression pattern of MK protein with respect to tumor progession of squamous cell lesions of the uterine cervix, we performed immunostaining analysis in biopsy and surgical specimens of 193 squamous cell lesions (mild dysplasia (n=29), moderate dysplasia (n=35), severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ (n=49), microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma (n=30), and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (n=18). Midkine immunostaining was negative in normal tissues of cervix (n=32). Severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ showed highest level of MK expression, and the expression level was significantly higher in high grade-squamous cell intraepithlelial lesions compared to the low grade-intraepithelial lesions and invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Our results suggest that MK protein might play a role in the tumor progression of precancerous lesions of uterine cervix.