CIZ1 Expression Is Upregulated in Hemangioma of the Tongue

Hemangioma is a vascular neoplasm and one of the most common benign tumors. The pathogenesis of hemangioma has not been fully understood. CIZ1 (Cip1-interacting zinc finger protein 1) is a nuclear protein and the binding partner of p21. Dysregulation of CIZ1 expression has been reported in various types of cancerous tissues. In this study, we examined CIZ1 expression in hemangioma of the tongue and explored its function in vascular endothelial cells, the proliferative cell type in hemangioma. Immunohistochemistry showed that CIZ1 was highly expressed in hemangioma of the tongue while its expression is minimal in the normal tongue tissues. In vitro, knockdown of CIZ1 expression by shRNA transfection significantly reduced the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelium cells (HUVECs), suggesting a positive role of CIZ1 in endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Therefore, CIZ1 might involve in pathogenesis of hemangioma of the tongue by regulation of endothelial cell functions.