title: Neurorescue effects of VEGF on a rat model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to display neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Here, we investigated the neurorescue effects of VEGF on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-treated DA neurons in vitro and in vivo. Initially, we examined in vitro whether 1, 10, or 100 ng/ml of VEGF administration at 2 or 4 h after 6-OHDA treatment rescued DA neurons derived from E14 murine ventral mesencephalon. The earlier treatment of VEGF suppressed 6-OHDA-induced loss of DA neurons more than the delayed treatment. Next, we examined whether the continuous infusion of VEGF had neurorescue effects in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. We established a human VEGF secreting cell line (BHK-VEGF) and encapsulated the cells into hollow fibers. The encapsulated cells were unilaterally transplanted into the striatum of adult rats at 1 or 2 weeks after 6-OHDA lesions, and animals subsequently underwent behavioral and immunohistochemical evaluations. Compared to lesioned rats that received BHK-Control capsules, lesioned rats transplanted with BHK-VEGF capsules showed a significant reduction in the number of amphetamine-induced rotations, a significant preservation of TH-positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, and a remarkable glial proliferation in the striatum, with the earlier transplantation exerting much more benefits than the delayed transplantation. Parallel studies revealed that the observed in vitro and in vivo neurorescue effects were likely mediated by VEGF's angiogenic and glial proliferative effects, as well as its direct effects on the neurons. Our results suggest that VEGF is a highly potent neurorescue molecule for Parkinson's disease therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Okayama, Japan. tyasuhara@mail.mcg.edu
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasuhara
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shingo
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muraoka
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kameda
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Agari
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wen Ji
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayase
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Cesario V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Borlongan
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Date
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012399:Rotation; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D007797:Laminin; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016627:Oxidopamine; D000661:Amphetamine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine