VEGF levels in asthmatic airways do not correlate with plasma extravasation.
BACKGROUND
Vascular permeability/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine which plays a role in chronic inflammation and angiogenesis. Its expression in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has not been determined although VEGF may be relevant to the pathophysiology of asthma in which oedema is an important feature.


METHODS
We studied VEGF, albumin and IgA immunoreactive levels in the BAL fluids obtained from 27 chronic stable asthmatics, nine untreated chronic bronchitis patients and 15 control subjects.


RESULTS
BAL fluid levels of VEGF and VEGF normalized to IgA were not significantly different in any patient group. Both asthmatic steroid- and non-steroid-treated groups had significantly lower albumin levels in their BAL fluids explaining most of the 179% increased VEGF normalized to albumin ratios in non-steroid treated asthmatics. Moreover, VEGF and albumin markers correlated in control subjects (r = 0.73, P = 0.006) and in chronic bronchitics (r = 0.75, P = 0.03, Spearman test), but not in asthmatics. VEGF was inversely correlated with asthma severity (GINA/NHLBI scores) in non-steroid treated asthmatics (tau = - 0.52, P = 0.009, Kendall test).


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, the potential role of VEGF in asthma requires further studies on bronchial biopsies and induced sputum.
Demoly
P
P
Maladies Respiratoires, INSERM U454, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 34295 Montpellier Cedex, France.
Maly
F E
FE
Mautino
G
G
Grad
S
S
Gougat
C
C
Sahla
H
H
Godard
P
P
Bousquet
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D008222:Lymphokines; D012709:Serum Albumin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors