title: Expression of the VEGF gene family during retinal vaso-obliteration and hypoxia.
abstract: Vascular insufficiency and retinal ischaemia precede many proliferative retinopathies and stimulate secretion of vasoactive growth factors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a major role and we therefore investigated the other members of the VEGF family: Placental growth factor (PlGF), VEGF-B, -C, and -D, and platelet derived growth factors (PDGF) A and B. Neonatal mice were exposed to hyperoxia for 5 days and then returned to room air (resulting in acute retinal ischaemia). RT-PCR demonstrated that all the members of the VEGF family are expressed in the retina and in situ hybridization (ISH) located their mRNAs primarily in ganglion cells. Similarly to VEGF itself, VEGF-C, PDGF-A, and PDGF-B were upregulated during retinal ischaemia (P < 0.05). Only PlGF gene expression increased during hyperoxia (P < 0.01). The expression pattern of these growth factors suggests a role in the normal retina and during vaso-obliterative and ischaemic phases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bhaduri
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Stitt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018496:Hyperoxia; D000860:Hypoxia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; C000608037:Pgf protein, mouse; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor