51. VEGF-A links angiogenesis and inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis
- Author
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Seppo Ylä-Herttuala, Silvio Danese, Stefania Vetrano, Franco Scaldaferri, Julián Panés, Vincenzo Arena, Claudio Fiocchi, Andreas Sturm, Alberto Malesci, Miquel Sans, Giuseppe Straface, Egidio Stigliano, Alessandro Repici, Scaldaferri, F., Vetrano, S., Sans, M., Arena, V., Straface, G., Stigliano, E., Sturm, A., Malesci, A., Panes, J., Yla-Herttuala, S., Fiocchi, C., and Danese, S.
- Subjects
CD31 ,Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ,mice ,Angiogenesis ,experimental colitis ,Biology ,Neovascularization ,Mice ,gene-transfer ,Intestinal mucosa ,endothelial-growth-factor ,medicine ,Leukocytes ,Animals ,Humans ,Intestinal Mucosa ,rheumatoid-arthritis ,driven angiogenesis ,immune-response ,cells ,biology ,pathway ,Cell adhesion ,Inflammation ,Settore MED/12 - Gastroenterologia ,Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ,Hepatology ,Neovascularization, Pathologic ,Cell adhesion molecule ,Gastroenterology ,Intercellular adhesion molecule ,Colitis ,Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ,Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ,Mice, Inbred C57BL ,Vascular endothelial growth factor A ,Disease Models, Animal ,Case-Control Studies ,Immunology ,Endothelium, Vascular ,medicine.symptom - Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) mediates angiogenesis and might also have a role in inflammation and immunity. We examined whether VEGF-A signaling has a role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: Expression levels of VEGF-A, and its receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, were examined in samples from patients with IBD and compared with those of controls. The capacity of VEGF-A to induce angiogenesis was tested in human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells using cell-migration and matrigel tubule-formation assays. Levels of vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule were measured by flow cytometry to determine induction of inflammation; neutrophil adhesion was also assayed. Expression patterns were determined in tissues from mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis; the effects of VEGF-A overexpression and blockade were assessed in these mice by adenoviral transfer of VEGF-A and soluble VEGFR-1. Intestinal angiogenesis was measured by quantitative CD31 staining and leukocyte adhesion in vivo by intravital microscopy. RESULTS: Levels of VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 increased in samples from patients with IBD and colitic mice. VEGF-A induced angiogenesis of human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells in vitro as well as an inflammatory phenotype and adherence of neutrophils to intestinal endothelium. Overexpression of VEGF-A in mice with DSS-induced colitis worsened their condition, whereas overexpression of soluble VEGFR-1 had the opposite effect. Furthermore, overexpression of VEGF-A increased mucosal angiogenesis and stimulated leukocyte adhesion in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF-A appears to be a novel mediator of IBD by promoting intestinal angiogenesis and inflammation. Agents that block VEGF-A signaling might reduce intestinal inflammation in patients with IBD.
- Published
- 2009