title: Isoform-specific expression of VEGF-B in normal tissues and tumors.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B), a member of the VEGF/PDGF family, is highly expressed in many tissues with two differentially spliced transcripts generating two secreted isoforms, VEGF-B167 and VEGF-B186. In this work, we have investigated the expression of VEGF-B in tissues and cell lines using techniques that can distinguish the two isoforms. The results showed that the VEGF-B167 isoform was predominantly expressed in most tissues, accounting for more than 80% of the total VEGF-B transcripts. The VEGF-B186 isoform was expressed at lower levels and only in a limited number of tissues. Moreover, the VEGF-B186 isoform was up-regulated in mouse and human tumor cell lines and primary tumors compared with their corresponding normal tissues. Taken together, our data suggest a fine genetic control of the expression of the two isoforms of VEGF-B, implying tissue- and cell-specific roles of the two VEGF-B isoforms.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aase
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: von Euler
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Eriksson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015347:RNA Probes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008222:Lymphokines; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D015347:RNA Probes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors