title: Mice lacking the vascular endothelial growth factor-B gene (Vegfb) have smaller hearts, dysfunctional coronary vasculature, and impaired recovery from cardiac ischemia.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor-B (VEGF-B) is closely related to VEGF-A, an effector of blood vessel growth during development and disease and a strong candidate for angiogenic therapies. To further study the in vivo function of VEGF-B, we have generated Vegfb knockout mice (Vegfb(-/-)). Unlike Vegfa knockout mice, which die during embryogenesis, Vegfb(-/-) mice are healthy and fertile. Despite appearing overtly normal, Vegfb(-/-) hearts are reduced in size and display vascular dysfunction after coronary occlusion and impaired recovery from experimentally induced myocardial ischemia. These findings reveal a role for VEGF-B in the development or function of coronary vasculature and suggest potential clinical use in therapeutic angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: QCF Transgenic Laboratory and Human Genetics Laboratory, Joint Experimental Oncology Program, the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Headrick
authors.forename: G U
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Silins
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gartside
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mould
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cahill
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Tonks
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Grimmond
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Townson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Kay
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B