Role of CXCR4 in human glioma angiogenesis

Abstract

[Objective]To investigate the relationships of CXCR4 expression with glioma malignancy and microvessel density (MVD) in human brain glioma tissues,and explore the role of CXCR4 in the process of glioma angiogenesis and the possibility of CXCR4 being target of antiangiogenic therapy.[Methods]Forty-one patients with brain gliomas,admitted to our hospital from September 2009 to September 2011,were chosen in our study;their glioma tissues (18 with low-grade malignant gliomas and 23 with high-grade malignant gliomas) and 10 normal brain tissues from patients with cerebral trauma were collected;immunohistoehemistry was used to detect the CXCR4 and CD34 protein expressions;and real-time PCR was used to detect the CXCR4 mRNA expression.MVD was calculated through CD34 staining for microvessel endothelium.[Results] The CXCR4 expression was negative in controls,and positive in 28 brain glioma tissues (68.29％);the MVD in the microvessel endothelium of glioma tissues was significantly higher than that in the controls (P＜0.05);CXCR4 expression and MVD were positively correlated with tumor malignant progress (P＜0.05).The CXCR4 mRNA in high-grade glioma tissues (5.19±1.43) was obviously higher than that in low-grade glioma tissues (2.28±0.71,P＜0.05).[Conclusion] CXCR4 might play a key role in human glioma angiogenesis and is a novel target for antiangiogenic therapy. Key words: CXCR4; Glioma; Angiogenesis