Very early expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in brain oedema tissue associated with brain contusion.
BACKGROUND
Brain oedema associated with cerebral contusion can be life-threatening. Mechanisms of the development of brain oedema are still unclear.


METHODS
We investigated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1) in the contusional brain tissue obtained during neurosurgery from 5 patients.


RESULTS
VEGF is expressed in some but not all the astrocytes, and KDR/Flk-1 is expressed in vascular endothelial cells in the con-tusional tissue as early as 3 hours after onset.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that the VEGF is induced in the contusional tissue in the very early period after onset, and that it increases capillary permeability via KDR/Flk-1 resulting in vasogenic type brain oedema.
Suzuki
R
R
Department of Neurosurgery, Showa University, Fujigaoka Hospital, Japan. ryuta@med.showa-u.ac.jp
Fukai
N
N
Nagashijma
G
G
Asai
J I
JI
Itokawa
H
H
Nagai
M
M
Suzuki
T
T
Fujimoto
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism
D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin