title: Effect of human recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor165 on progression of atherosclerotic plaque.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to evaluate the impact of recombinant human vascular endothelial growth factor165 (rhVEGF) on atherosclerotic plaque progression.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Therapeutic angiogenesis represents a promising treatment for ischemic diseases. However, angiogenesis may impact atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Albumin or rhVEGF was administered by a single intramuscular injection (2 microg/kg body weight) to New Zealand White rabbits fed with a 0.25% cholesterol diet beginning three weeks before therapy. Subsets of rabbits from each group underwent perfusion-fixation and harvesting of the thoracic aorta for morphometric and immunohistochemical analyses at 7 or 21 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean plaque area was 15.75+/-2.28% and 22.00+/-3.24% with VEGF and 0.67+/-0.22% and 1.17+/-0.34% with albumin at 7 and 21 days, respectively. The plaque circumference was 13.00+/-2.58% and 23.75+/-2.86% with VEGF and 2.50+/-0.65% and 6.25+/-1.88% with albumin at 7 and 21 days, respectively. The maximal plaque thickness was 0.11+/-0.002 and 0.15+/-0.007 mm with VEGF and 0.04+/-0.009 and 0.07+/-0.003 mm with albumin at 7 and 21 days, respectively. The endothelial density (reported as percent total plaque area) was 31.75+/-4.42% and 63.00+/-8.45% with VEGF and 7.75+/-1.65% and 12.75+/-1.93% with albumin at 7 and 21 days, respectively. The macrophage density was 4.5+/-0.86 and 19.25+/-1.54 with VEGF and 4.26+/-0.75 and 6.00+/-1.08 with albumin at 7 and 21 days, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recombinant human VEGF increases the rate and degree of atherosclerotic plaque formation in the thoracic aorta in a cholesterol-fed rabbit model.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Stanford University Medical Center, California 94305, USA.
authors: F L
authors: FL
authors: Celletti
authors: P R
authors: PR
authors: Hilfiker
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Ghafouri
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Dake
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008264:Macrophages; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors