OBJECTIVETo study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors, the fms-like tyrosine-1 (flt-1) and kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) in endometrial carcinoma and investigate the functions of VEGF and its receptors for endometrial carcinoma angiogenesis and its relation to the grade of tumor.

METHODSImmunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization technique were used to measure the level of VEGF, flt-1, KDR protein and mRNA in endometrial carcinoma tissue from 23 patients and endometrial samples from 6 normal menopausal women. A few endometrial carcinoma samples were homogenized for Western blot analysis. The blood vessel density was estimated by counting blood vessels stained with endothelial marker VIII factor.

RESULTSThe VEGF and its receptors were widely expressed in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells and tumor cells of endometrial carcinoma. The level of VEGF protein in endothelial cells and endometrial cancer cells of grade II and III tumor tissues was higher than that in grade I and normal menopausal endometrium (P < 0.05). VEGF mRNA did not show higher expression with the increase of tumor grade but its expression in normal tissue was lower than that in cancer (P < 0.05). The expression of flt-1 protein and mRNA in endothelial cells got higher in III than in grade II and I (P < 0.05), but invariable in cancer cells (P > 0.05), flt-1 expression in cancer was higher than that in normal menopausal endometrium either in endothelial cells or in cancer cells (P < 0.05). The expression of KDR protein in endothelial and cancer cell was high but did not alter with the increase of tumor grade (P > 0.05), the level of its mRNA was higher in cancer than that in normal tissue (P < 0.05). The microvascular density in grade III (48 +/- 12) was higher than that in grade II (26 +/- 16), grade I (27 +/- 14) and normal menopausal tissue (26 +/- 11, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression pattern of VEGF, flt-1 and KDR protein and mRNA increased with the increase of tumor grade in endometrial carcinoma indicates that VEGF and its receptors contribute to the neovascularization of tumors and is one of the factors that relate to rapid tumor growth of endometrial carcinoma.

Endometrial Neoplasms ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) expression, VEGFR-3 expression, lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSSeventy-six NSCLC samples were stained for VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and CD34 with immunohistochemical methods. Assessment of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and microvessel density (MVD) was performed. The expressions of VEGF-C in 24 fresh NSCLC samples were determined with Western blot assay.

RESULTSOf the 76 NSCLC cases, 55 were VEGF-C positive and 40 were VEGFR-3 positive in cancer cells. A significant positive correlation was found between VEGF-C expression and VEGFR-3 expression in cancer cells (P < 0.05). VEGF-C expression was negatively associated with differentiation of tumor cells (P < 0.05). VEGF-C expression and VEGFR-3 expression were positively associated with lymph node metastasis and lymphatic invasion (P < 0.05). LVD was positively related to VEGF-C expression, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion and clinical stage (P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between LVD and MVD (R = 0.732, P < 0.05). Patients with positive VEGF-C expression had worse outcomes than those with negative VEGF-C expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn NSCLC, VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 are related to the lymphangiogenesis, angiogenesis, and occurrence and development of lung cancers. VEGF-C expression could be a useful predictor of poor prognosis in NSCLC.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 ; biosynthesis

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), a core transcription factor responding to changes in cellular oxygen levels, is closely associated with a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions. However, its differential impacts on vascular cell types and molecular programs modulating human vascular homeostasis and regeneration remain largely elusive. Here, we applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing of human embryonic stem cells and directed differentiation to generate HIF-1α-deficient human vascular cells including vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as a platform for discovering cell type-specific hypoxia-induced response mechanisms. Through comparative molecular profiling across cell types under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, we provide insight into the indispensable role of HIF-1α in the promotion of ischemic vascular regeneration. We found human MSCs to be the vascular cell type most susceptible to HIF-1α deficiency, and that transcriptional inactivation of ANKZF1, an effector of HIF-1α, impaired pro-angiogenic processes. Altogether, our findings deepen the understanding of HIF-1α in human angiogenesis and support further explorations of novel therapeutic strategies of vascular regeneration against ischemic damage.
Humans ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hypoxia/metabolism* ; Cell Hypoxia/physiology*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes of VEGF in skin after blunt injury. METHODS: The rats of injury groups were subjected to skin blunt injury by free-falling iron hammer. The samples taken at 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, 5 d, 7 d, 9 d after injury were studied by immunohistochemistry and MIAS image analysis system. RESULTS: In the skin of normal control group the expression level of VEGF was low. The increase of VEGF could be observed at 1 day after injury, reached peak at 7 days and declined at 9 days. CONCLUSION Blunt injury in the skin could induce the expression of the VEGF. Moreover, the change pattern of VEGF level was quite regular with time and could be used to estimate the time after skin injury.
Animals ; Endothelial Growth Factors/metabolism* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; Lymphokines/metabolism* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin/metabolism* ; Time Factors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo construct a retroviral vector carrying human vascular endothelial growth factor (hVEGF (121)) cDNA for evaluation of the possibility of VEGF gene therapy in ischemic bone disease.

METHODShVEGF(121) cDNA was obtained from the plasmid pCDI/VEGF(121) and cloned into retroviral plasmid pLXSN. Recombinant plasmid was transferred to the retro virus packaging cell, PT-67, by lipofectamine mediated gene transfer. Mouse bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) were transfected by the retrovirus. The integration of the hVEGF(121) cDNA into MSC genomic DNA and expression of the VEGF gene was detected. Proliferation assays of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by VEGF(121) in culture medium were performed.

RESULTSRecombinant pLXSN/VEGF(121) was correctly constructed and confirmed by restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequencing analysis. hVEGF(121) gene was integrated into MSC genomic DNA after transfection, and the VEGF(121) protein was expressed. Proliferation assays showed VEGF(121) in culture medium was a biologically active protein and had a mitogenic effect on HUVEC.

CONCLUSIONSRecombinant retroviral vector carrying hVEGF(121) cDNA was successfully constructed. VEGF (121) protein expressed by MSCs had mitogenic effect biologically. This provides a further foundation for VEGF gene therapy for bone ischemic disease and bone tissue engineering.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Cell Division ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; Mice ; Plasmids ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Transgenes ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors ; Virus Assembly

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor expression with estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes in fresh human breast cancer samples, and study the potential effect of ER subtypes on tumor angiogenesis.

METHODSWestern blot was used to detect the VEGF and ERbeta protein expression in 86 fresh samples of human breast cancer. ERalpha was analyzed by immunohistochemistry routinely.

RESULTSAmong 86 samples, 42 (48.8%) showed low expressed VEGF and 44 (51.2%) high expressed VEGF. The level of VEGF protein was correlated with ERbeta. In high expressed VEGF group, ERbeta was also highly expressed (chi(2) = 7.36, P < 0.01). But there was no significant difference between VEGF protein level and ERalpha (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn human breast cancer samples, VEGF may be related to ERbeta protein expression.

Adult ; Aged ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphokines ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Estrogen ; classification ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (BFGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and to evaluate their significance.

METHODSMVD and expression of VEGF and BFGF in cancerous tissues were examined in forty specimens resected from patients with HCC using immunohistochemical methods. Among these patients, 20 patients received 1 to 7 treatments of TACE prior to II-phase surgical resection (TACE group), the other 20 patients were treated by operation without receiving any other treatment preoperatively (surgical group). There was no significant difference in clinical features between the two groups. MVD was assessed by counting immunostained endothelial cells within a certain area, and staining intensity of VEGF was assessed quantitatively with computer-assisted image analyzer. The expression of BFGF was determined by cell-positive or cell-negative.

RESULTSThe average MVD was 130.51 75.5 in TACE group and 152.35 58.80 in surgical group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (t=-1.021, P=0.341). Staining intensity of VEGF was 645.60 543.27 in TACE group, higher than in surgical group (158.28 188.48, t=281, P<0.001). BFGF-positive rate was 35% in TACE group and 40% in surgical group. There was no significant difference (x(2)=0.107, P=0.744).

CONCLUSIONSThe results indicate that survived cancerous tissue has rich vascularity and the expression of VEGF of the cancerous cells can be enhanced by TACE which may play an important role in reestablishment of blood supply to tumor after TACE.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Catheterization ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; biosynthesis ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Lymphokines ; biosynthesis ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between epidermal growth factor (EGF) and overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSExpressions of EGF, VEGF and microvessel density were studied through immunohistochemical SABC method in 36 HCC specimens, their paraneoplastic liver tissues and 6 normal liver tissues with the correlation between these parameters analyzed. Recombinant human EGF was used to stimulate HepG(2) cells and semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR was adopted to detect the expression of VEGF in HepG(2) cells.

RESULTSThe positive rates of EGF and VEGF expression in HCC tissue were 75.0% and 88.9%. There was positive correlation between EGF and VEGF expression (P < 0.01, r = 0.462). Recombinant human EGF could induce the expression of VEGF in HepG(2) cells in a dose and time dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of EGF in HCC underlies the overexpression of VEGF in HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; analysis ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; analysis ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Lymphokines ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Statistics as Topic ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

To investigate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on beta1 integrin (VLA-4 and VLA-5) activation ability in K562 cells transfected with antisense VEGF121 cDNA, K562 cells were transfected with antisense (As), sense (S) and vector (V, pcDNA(3)). Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the expression rate of VLA-4 (CD49d/CD29) and VLA-5 (CD49e/CD29) and beta1 integrin activation ability in the transfected K562 cells. The results showed that the expression rates of VLA-4 and VLA-5 were more than 92% in the transfected K562 cells and there was no difference among the K562/V, K562/S and K562/As cells. However, beta1 integrin activated 9EG7 expression rate in K562/As cells was higher than that in K562/V cells [(75.6 +/- 10.5)% vs (41.2 +/- 2.1)%, P < 0.01)] after activation with beta1 integrin activator 8A2. It is concluded that function of beta1 integrin to be activated is restored in K562 cells transfected with antisense VEGF121 cDNA.
DNA ; genetics ; DNA, Antisense ; genetics ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Integrin alpha4beta1 ; biosynthesis ; Integrin alpha5beta1 ; biosynthesis ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; K562 Cells ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

OBJECTIVETo screen for the inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 165 from random peptide library.

METHODSPositive phage clones were rescued after two rounds of panning and competitive elution. Its affinity activity to KDR was monitored through ELISA, immunohistochemical method, Chicken CAM assay and MTT.

RESULTSFive specific binding positive target molecule phage clones were obtained which were able to bind to cells whose surface had high KDR, among which, clone 3 and 13 could effectively block the vascularization of the chorioallantoic membrane of chick embryo, but they were not inhibitive on the proliferation of high KDR expression cells.

CONCLUSIONThe peptides, being the inhibitors of VEGF, may be useful in the treatment of cancers.

Animals ; Binding Sites ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Lymphokines ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Peptide Library ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors