Vascular endothelial growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor levels are differentially elevated in patients with advanced retinopathy of prematurity.
Although the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in angiogenesis are well described, the putative roles of these factors in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remain unknown. We evaluated VEGF and HGF protein levels in subretinal fluid of eyes with ROP, and expression of their corresponding receptors in retrolental membranes associated with stage 5 ROP. We examined subretinal fluid samples from eyes using rhegmatogenous retinal detachment as a control. VEGF and HGF were differentially elevated in eyes with ROP. In Stage 5 ROP (n = 22), the mean VEGF and HGF levels were 14.77 +/- 14.01 ng/ml and 16.56 +/- 9.62 ng/ml, respectively. Interestingly, in patients with active stage 4 ROP, mean VEGF levels were highly elevated (44.16 +/- 18.72 ng/ml), whereas mean HGF levels remained very low (4.77 +/- 2.50 ng/ml). Next, we investigated in vivo expression of VEGF receptor-2 and HGF receptor in retrolental membranes from 16 patients with stage 5 ROP. Both VEGF receptor-2 and HGF receptor proteins were detected mainly in posterior portions of the membrane as well as in vessel walls and along the retinal interface where angiogenesis was active. These findings together suggest that VEGF and HGF play important roles in the pathogenesis of ROP.
Lashkari
K
K
Schepens Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. lashkari@vision.eri.harvard.edu
Hirose
T
T
Yazdany
J
J
McMeel
J W
JW
Kazlauskas
A
A
Rahimi
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000378:metabolism; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000378:metabolism; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor