Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor, soluble VEGF receptor Flt-1 and endothelial function in healthy smokers.
OBJECTIVE
To relate levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its soluble receptor, sFlt-1, with endothelial function in healthy smokers.


METHODS
Plasma levels of VEGF and sFlt-1 were measured by ELISA in 22 healthy smokers and 22 matched healthy non-smoking controls, and compared to flow- (FMD) and acetylcholine-mediated (AMD) vasodilatation (endothelial-dependent) (EDV) and nitroglycerine-mediated (NMD) vasodilatation (endothelial-independent) of lower extremities were measured with plethysmography.


RESULTS
Smokers and controls had similar plasma VEGF levels, but sFlt-1 levels were lower in smokers than in controls (p<0.01). AMD was lower in smokers compared to controls (p<0.05), but FMD and NMD levels were similar. Smokers and controls with high AMD (>12 ml/100 ml tissue/min) had significantly lower plasma VEGF levels (p<0.001). An inverse correlation was found in both groups, between VEGF and AMD (smokers: r=-0.6, p<0.01; controls: r=-0.71, p<0.005) and with FMD (smokers: r=-0.56, p<0.05; controls: r=-0.58, p<0.005). There were no significant correlations between sFlt-1 with VEGF levels or endothelial-dependent dilatation.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, healthy smokers demonstrate abnormal AMD, and an inverse correlation between plasma VEGF levels (but not sFlt-1) with indices of endothelial dysfunction (FMD and AMD) exists. VEGF, and not sFlt-1, may be related to the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction in healthy smoking individuals.
Schmidt-Lucke
Caroline
C
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
Belgore
Funmi
F
Reinhold
Dirk
D
Ansorge
Siegfried
S
Klein
Helmut U
HU
Schmidt-Lucke
J André
JA
Lip
Gregory Y H
GY
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood*; D014664:Vasodilation
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2