VEGF increases retinal vascular ICAM-1 expression in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
Intraocular injections of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a peptide implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, can induce retinal ischemia. Diabetic retinal ischemia may be caused, in part, by the adhesion of leukocytes to the retinal vasculature. In this study, the ability of VEGF to increase the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and other adhesion molecules in capillary endothelium and the retinal vasculature was examined.


METHODS
The expression of ICAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and P-selectin on human brain capillary endothelial cell monolayers exposed to VEGF was quantitated by immunoassay. The effect of VEGF on retinal vascular ICAM-1 expression was determined in ICAM-1 immunofluorescence studies of retinal flat-mounts and in RNase protection assays.


RESULTS
VEGF increased capillary endothelial cell ICAM-1 levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner (6-24 hours, plateau after 6 hours; EC50, 25 ng/ml). VEGF failed to alter E-selectin, P-selectin, or VCAM-1 levels under the conditions tested. Intravitreal injections of pathophysiologically relevant concentrations of VEGF increased ICAM-1 protein and mRNA levels in the retinal vasculature.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF increases retinal vascular ICAM-1 expression. VEGF-induced increases in ICAM-1 may promote retinal leukostasis in diabetic eyes.
Lu
M
M
Children's Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston 02114, USA.
Perez
V L
VL
Ma
N
N
Miyamoto
K
K
Peng
H B
HB
Liao
J K
JK
Adamis
A P
AP
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D019040:E-Selectin; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D019007:P-Selectin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1