Correlation between angiogenic/inflammatory mediators in Wister rat model of liver dysplasia

ABSTRACTAngiogenesis plays a critical role in tumor development and progression. It is regulated through the elaboration of many inflammatory/angiogenic mediators. In this study, we followed angiogenesis in hepatocarcinogenesis process from cancer initiation to sever dysplasia by measuring several inflammatory/angiogenic mediators. Wister rat model of liver cancer was set up using diethylnitrosamine (DEN). One hundred twenty rats were divided into 7 groups: normal untreated and 1- to 6-month DEN-treated animals. Every month, group of DEN-treated animals were sacrificed. Histopathological examination of livers was done. Plasma levels of vascular endothelial and platelet derived growth factors (VEGF and PDGF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-4, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Histopathological findings were confirmatory to the gradual formation of liver cancer with time (from mild to moderate to irreversible severe dysplasia)...