Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in epidermis of lesions from patients with lichen planus and psoriasis.Methods The expression of VEGF protein was detected by immunochemistry with VEGF and CD34 antibodies,and the densities of capillary vessel in dermis were counted,in specimens taken from patients with lichen planus and psoriasis.Results The expression of VEGF was almost negative in epidermis of normal controls.Nevertheless,among patients with lichen planus and psoriasis,the VEGF was negative in non-lesional epidermis,and positive in the upper epidermis of transitional regions,from weak to strong,and from incontinuous to continuous,and positive in the epidermis of lesions,mainly by granular-like stain of upper epidermal cytoplasm.As to CD34 expression,it was shown that dermal capillaries of the lesions proliferated and dilated.The density of capillary vessels of upper dermis was 45.61±15.70/mm² in non-lesional,68.63±15.36/mm² in transitional,and 92.07±16.84/mm² in lesional regions in patients with lichen planus,and 43.73±14.55/mm² in non-lesional,72.12±18.81/mm² in transitional,100.29±21.93/mm² in lesional regions in psoriatic patients.And the differences of capillary vessel densities between each region were significant in both patient groups,respectively.Conclusion Expression of VEGF is present in the epidermis of lesions in patients with lichen planus and psoriasis,which is closely related to the proliferation and dilation of dermal capillary vessels.

Key words: Lichen planus, Psoriasis, Vascular endothelial growth factors, Antigens, CD34