title: Vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor, Flt-1, in smokers and non-smokers.
abstract: Raised levels of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are found in some cancers, diabetes, and certain other conditions, but levels of its receptor, soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1), in these diseases have yet to be reported. We hypothesised that smoking would influence levels of these molecules. Consequently, we measured VEGF and sFlt-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in plasma from 92 non-smokers and 35 smokers. No difference in VEGF was seen between the groups but, despite considerable overlap, sFlt-1 was significantly lower in smokers (P = 0.027). VEGF and sFlt-1 correlated strongly with each other (P < 0.001). Although VEGF may arise from a number of cell types, including endothelial cells, the primary source of sFlt-1 is thought to be the endothelium; however, neither VEGF nor sFlt-1 correlated with levels of the endothelial cell activation/damage marker soluble thrombomodulin. Our data point to changes in levels of the VEGF receptor, sFlt-1--but not VEGF itself--in smokers, which appears to be unrelated to endothelial cell function.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Belgore
authors.forename: G Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Blann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000097:blood*; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D012995:Solubility; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1