Expression of VEGF, VEGF-R2, bFGF and FGF-R in Oral Capillary Hemangioma

Oral capillary hemangioma (OCH) is a benign hamartomatous lesion that exhibits a proliferation of capillary endothelial cells and abnormal capillary formation. Its occurrence is relatively common in the oral cavity, yet the pathogenesis is not well understood. To elucidate the mechanism of OCH development, we examined the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), as well as their receptors (VEGF-R2, FGF-R), in OCH of 45 patients using an immunohistochemical staining method. More than 50% of the endothelial cells and the stromal cells of OCH showed significantly elevated expression of VEGF or/and bFGF, accompanied with an increase in the expression of their receptors. The increased number of capillary vessels in OCH was positively correlated with the expression level of these angiogenic factors. Our data indicate that the pathogenesis of OCH is closely associated with overexpression of angiogenic factors, which may result in autocrine or paracrine stimulation of endothelial cells and their precursors.