First Author | Louzier V | Year | 2003 |
Journal | Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol | Volume | 284 |
Issue | 6 | Pages | L926-37 |
PubMed ID | 12547729 | Mgi Jnum | J:83897 |
Mgi Id | MGI:2664048 | Doi | 10.1152/ajplung.00247.2002 |
Citation | Louzier V, et al. (2003) Role of VEGF-B in the lung during development of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 284(6):L926-37 |
abstractText | Angiogenic factors exert protective effects on the lung. To investigate the effect of VEGF-B, a factor coexpressed in the lung with VEGF-A, we assessed chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in VEGF-B knockout mice (VEGF-B-/-) and in rats with lung overexpression of VEGF-B induced by adenovirus transfer. No significant difference in pulmonary hemodynamics, right ventricular hypertrophy, distal vessel muscularization, or vascular density was found between VEGF-B-/- and control mice after 3 wk of hypoxia. When overexpressed, VEGF-B(167) or VEGF-B(186) had protective effects similar to those of human VEGF-A(165). Lung endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression was increased by 5 days of hypoxia or VEGF-A adenovirus vector (Ad.VEGF-A) overexpression, whereas VEGF-B(167) or VEGF-B(186) had no effect. With hypoxia or normoxia, the wet-to-dry lung weight ratio was increased 5 days after Ad.VEGF-A administration compared with control (Ad.nul), Ad.VEGF-B(167), or Ad.VEGF-B(186). Endogenous VEGF-B does not counteract the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. However, when overexpressed in the lung, VEGF-B can be as potent as VEGF-A in attenuating pulmonary hypertension, although it has no effect on eNOS expression or vascular permeability. |