Fig. 3

Expression of Src in facial venous malformation and associated histopathology features. a VMCM tissues from the lip or genio-cervical region and neighboring healthy control tissues (n = 12/12) were analyzed by western blotting for the expression of signaling molecules. Densitometry and protein band analysis were performed using ImageJ software (NIH, USA). The mean optical density values (in arbitrary units, AU) of the Western blotting bands are given in percentage related to the total area for each band ± standard error of mean. The relative expression of Src and p-Src were normalized to β-actin as a loading control. The image bands correspond to VMCM tissue versus healthy control tissue in the patient with the deletion of the two nucleotides “CT” in intron 15 of the TEK gene (the relative expression ratios between VMCM tissue versus healthy tissue were 2.3 for Src and 1.9 for p-Src). The statistical graphs represent the results of all VMCM and healthy control tissues. P-values for optical density and ROD were respectively greater than 0.05 and less than 0.001 for both Src and p-Src by Mann–Whitney U using SPSS software version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). b Histological layers stained with hematoxylin-eosin showed thick and hyaline vessels with vascular thrombosis and bordered venous lakes with endothelial cells (H-E x 10). ROD: relative optical density, VC: vascular cavity, VE: vascular endothelium, VMCM: cutaneo-mucosal venous malformation, VT: vascular thrombosis