Endothelial Cells of a Normal Liver and with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

The article presents a systematic review of the literature data on the role of endothelial cells and features of vascularization in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The capillaries of the normal liver are represented by sinusoids, which are characterized by the presence of specific fenestrations in endothelial cells and the absence of a basal membrane under the endothelium. The article shows that, as a rule, the development of hepatocellular carcinoma occurs upon chronic liver lesions, and it is a multistage process of the progression of tissue and cellular atypism, as well as changes in the vascularization of tumor tissue. The vascular network that forms in the tumor tissue is characterized by structural and functional atypism. The development and progression of liver carcinoma is accompanied by changes in the structure and metabolism of endothelial cells in the tumor node, as well as chromosomal aberrations with impaired gene expression and growth factors. The processes of angiogenesis and vascularization are based on the morphological determination of microvessel density on immunohistochemical specimens. The clinical diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma is based on the detection of radiation characteristics of the tumor, including those due to changes in vascularization of the tumor tissue. An increase in the malignancy grade of hepatocellular carcinoma is accompanied by a decrease in blood flow through the portal vein system and, accordingly, an increase in arterial blood flow. It is noted that knowledge of the processes of tumor angiogenesis is required to develop antitumor, targeted, antiangiogenic drugs.