Adenovirus-mediated VEGF(121) gene transfer stimulates angiogenesis in normoperfused skeletal muscle and preserves tissue perfusion after induction of ischemia.
BACKGROUND
Administration of angiogenic factors stimulates neovascularization in ischemic tissues. However, there is no evidence that angiogenesis can be induced in normoperfused skeletal muscles. We tested the hypothesis that adenovirus-mediated intramuscular (IM) gene transfer of the 121-amino-acid form of vascular endothelial growth factor (AdCMV.VEGF(121)) could stimulate neovascularization in nonischemic skeletal muscle and consequently attenuate the hemodynamic deficit secondary to surgically induced ischemia.


RESULTS
Rabbits and rats received IM injections of AdCMV.VEGF(121), AdCMV.Null, or saline in the thigh, 4 weeks (rabbits) or 2 weeks (rats) before femoral artery removal in the injected limb. In unoperated rats, at the site of injection of AdCMV.VEGF(121), we found 96% and 29% increases in length density of arterioles and capillaries, respectively. Increased tissue perfusion (TP) to the ischemic limb in the AdCMV.VEGF(121) group was documented, as early as day 1 after surgery, by improved blood flow to the ischemic gastrocnemius muscle measured by radioactive microspheres (AdCMV.VEGF(121)=5.69+/-0.40, AdCMV.Null=2.97+/-0.50, and saline=2.78+/-0.43 mL x min(-1) x 100 g(-1), P<0.001), more angiographically recognizable collateral vessels (angioscore) (AdCMV. VEGF(121)=50.58+/-1.48, AdCMV.Null=29.08+/-4.22, saline=11.83+/-1.90, P<0.0001), and improvement of the bioenergetic reserve of the gastrocnemius muscle as assessed by (31)P NMR spectroscopy. Follow-up studies showed that superior TP to the ischemic limb in the AdCMV.VEGF(121) group persisted until it was equalized by spontaneous collateral vessel development in untreated animals.


CONCLUSIONS
IM administration of AdCMV.VEGF(121) stimulates angiogenesis in normoperfused skeletal muscles, and the newly formed vessels preserve TP after induction of ischemia.
Gowdak
L H
LH
Gene Therapy Unit, Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Poliakova
L
L
Wang
X
X
Kovesdi
I
I
Fishbein
K W
KW
Zacheo
A
A
Palumbo
R
R
Straino
S
S
Emanueli
C
C
Marrocco-Trischitta
M
M
Lakatta
E G
EG
Anversa
P
P
Spencer
R G
RG
Talan
M
M
Capogrossi
M C
MC
D000256:Adenoviridae; D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000502:physiology*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors