Expression of vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor by human granulosa and theca lutein cells. Role in corpus luteum development.
Vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VPF/VEGF) is a cytokine that is overexpressed in many tumors, in healing wounds, and in rheumatoid arthritis. VPF/VEGF is thought to induce angiogenesis and accompanying connective tissue stroma in two ways: 1), by increasing microvascular permeability, thereby modifying the extracellular matrix and 2), as an endothelial cell mitogen. VPF/VEGF has been reported in animal corpora lutea and we investigated the possibility that it might be present in human ovaries and have a role in corpus luteum formation. We here report that VPF/VEGF mRNA and protein are expressed by human ovarian granulosa and theca cells late in follicle development and, subsequent to ovulation, by granulosa and theca lutein cells. Therefore, VPF/VEGF is ideally positioned to provoke the increased permeability of thecal blood vessels that occurs shortly before ovulation. VPF/VEGF likely also contributes to the angiogenesis and connective tissue stroma generation that accompany corpus luteum/corpus albicans formation. Finally, VPF/VEGF was overexpressed in the hyperthecotic ovarian stroma of Stein-Leventhal syndrome in which it may also have a pathophysiological role.
Kamat
B R
BR
Department of Pathology, Mt. Auburn Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Brown
L F
LF
Manseau
E J
EJ
Senger
D R
DR
Dvorak
H F
HF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008184:Luteal Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000737:chemistry; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors