Detection of vascular endothelial growth factor messenger RNA and vascular endothelial growth factor-like activity in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To study the involvement of eight angiogenic growth factors that have been identified so far in the literature, especially vascular endothelial growth factor, in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.


METHODS
Samples of neovascular membranes were obtained from diabetic patients; these samples, excised at vitrectomy, were used to study the expression of messenger RNA of the angiogenic factors by using the method of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Vitreous aspirates that were taken from diabetic and control patients were used to quantify vascular endothelial growth factor-like activity with a competitive radioreceptor assay.


RESULTS
Of the eight angiogenic factors studied, vascular endothelial growth factor was the only one that was always expressed in the samples of neovascular membranes. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-binding activity was greater in vitreous aspirates that were obtained from diabetic patients than in samples that were taken from control patients (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular endothelial growth factor seems to be an appropriate candidate for mediating retinal diabetic neovascularization.
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CNRS, University of Toulouse, France.
F
F
Malecaze
S
S
Clamens
V
V
Simorre-Pinatel
A
A
Mathis
P
P
Chollet
C
C
Favard
F
F
Bayard
J
J
Plouet
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001483:Base Sequence; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D017931:DNA Primers; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor