OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the endogenous vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression in diabetics' calf ischemic skeletal muscle and the pathogeny of diabetic foot.

METHODSTwenty-four patients (33 limbs) were divided into 3 groups: diabetes mellitus (DM) without lower extremity ischemia (n = 5) (10 limbs); arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) without diabetes mellitus (n = 10) (13 limbs); diabetic lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans (DLASO) (n = 9) (10 limbs). Control group consisted of normal volunteers (NOR) (n = 5) (10 limbs). The calf skeletal muscle tissue was obtained through muscle biopsy. RT-PCR was applied to determine the expression of hVEGF165mRNA.

RESULTSThere was no expression in the calf skeletal muscle tissue of normal volunteers and DM. The calf skeletal muscle tissue in DLASO had the expression of hVEGF165mRNA (0.021 +/- 0.013) micro g, but obviously lower than ASO (0.133 +/- 0.024) micro g, (t = 13.32, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe endogenous VEGF gene expression in ischemic lower extremity of DLASO is obviously lower than that of ASO. It is the important endogenic cause of the genesis and development of diabetic foot ulcer.