title: Expression of VEGF in routinely fixed material using a new monoclonal antibody VG1.
abstract: The aim of this study was to raise and characterize a monoclonal antibody reactive with VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in routinely fixed specimens and to use it to investigate its tissue distribution in normal and pathological specimens. Recombinant VEGF 189 protein was used to raise a monoclonal antibody. The specificity of the antibody was confirmed using COS cells transfected with cDNA coding for VEGF 121, 165 and 189 protein and by western blotting studies. The resulting antibody VG1 was shown to react with the 121, 165 and 189 isoforms of VEGF protein in routinely processed material. In normal tissues, there was strong staining of endometrial and salivary glands and of the mucosa of the gastro-intestinal tract. In tumours, a proportion of the neoplastic cells in lung and breast cancer and in melanoma were labelled. In all tissues, whether normal or malignant, striking VEGF positivity was seen in plasma in vessels and stroma. This study has shown that antibody VG1 detects the 121, 165 and 189 VEGF isoforms in routinely fixed specimens. The results of the normal tissue and tumour labelling are in agreement with other studies using alternative methods of detection. This should be a useful and reliable reagent for studies of VEGF and angiogenesis in human pathological material.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Cellular Science, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, U.K.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turley
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bicknell
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Gatter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry; D019556:COS Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors