Lab resourceCo-expression of tissue factor and IL-6 in immature endothelial cells of cerebral cavernous malformations

•The expression of tissue factor (TF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) was analyzed.•The mRNA expression of TF of CCMs was significantly higher than that of the control.•The mRNA expression of TF was correlated with the number of hemorrhage appearances and the mRNA expression level of IL-6.•TF and both are present in the same immature endothelial cells.•These factors may have a prognostic role in CCM.

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are congenital abnormal clusters of capillaries that are prone to leaking and thought to result from a disorder of endothelial cells. The underlying pathology of CCM is not fully understood. We analyzed the expression of tissue factor (TF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in CCMs to determine the association of TF and IL-6 with clinical and pathological findings. Thirteen cases of operative specimens of sporadic CCMs were included in this study. The expression of messenger RNA of TF and IL-6 was assayed and the association with clinical factors was investigated. Then, the distribution of TF and IL-6 was examined with immunofluorescence. The mRNA expression of TF of CCMs was significantly higher than that of the control (p = 0.017), and was correlated with the number of hemorrhage appearances (p = 0.190, ρ = 0.62). The mRNA expression level of IL-6 was significantly correlated with the mRNA expression level of TF (p = 0.034, ρ = 0.58). Examination of immunostained sections indicated that TF+ cells were also positive for IL-6, and distributed around normal endothelial cells. Moreover, the TF+/IL-6+ cells expressed CD31 and VEGFR2. The expressions of IL-6 and TF were correlated, and both were present in the same immature endothelial cells. TF is elevated in CCM and might mediate progressive events. These factors may play a prognostic role in CCM.