Blockade of vascular endothelial growth factor suppresses experimental restenosis after intraluminal injury by inhibiting recruitment of monocyte lineage cells.
BACKGROUND
Therapeutic angiogenesis by delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has attracted attention. However, the role and function of VEGF in experimental restenosis (neointimal formation) after vascular intraluminal injury have not been addressed.


RESULTS
We report herein that blockade of VEGF by soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sFlt-1) gene transfer attenuated neointimal formation after intraluminal injury in rabbits, rats, and mice. sFlt-1 gene transfer markedly attenuated the early vascular inflammation and proliferation and later neointimal formation. sFlt-1 gene transfer also inhibited increased expression of inflammatory factors such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and VEGF. Intravascular VEGF gene transfer enhanced angiogenesis in the adventitia but did not reduce neointimal formation.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased expression and activity of VEGF are essential in the development of experimental restenosis after intraluminal injury by recruiting monocyte-lineage cells.
Ohtani
Kisho
K
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Egashira
Kensuke
K
Hiasa
Ken-ichi
K
Zhao
Qingwei
Q
Kitamoto
Shiro
S
Ishibashi
Minako
M
Usui
Makoto
M
Inoue
Shujiro
S
Yonemitsu
Yoshikazu
Y
Sueishi
Katsuo
K
Sata
Masataka
M
Shibuya
Masabumi
M
Sunagawa
Kenji
K
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D002455:Cell Division; D019070:Cell Lineage; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D024501:Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIB; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012038:Regeneration; D012995:Solubility; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D024501:Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIB; C103815:nonmuscle myosin type IIB heavy chain; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains