Hypoxia regulates vascular endothelial growth factor and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 secretion by human oviductal epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of hypoxia on the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) in the human fallopian tube.


METHODS
The secretion of VEGF and sFlt-1 by cultured oviductal epithelial cells (OECs) and oviductal stromal fibroblasts (OSFs) in response to hypoxia was investigated.


METHODS
Research laboratory at a medical school.


METHODS
Normal oviducts obtained from seven premenopausal patients were used.


METHODS
Oviductal epithelial cells and OSFs were incubated under normoxic (20% O2) or hypoxic (2% O2) conditions.


METHODS
The concentrations of VEGF and sFlt-1 in the culture media of OECs and OSFs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.


RESULTS
The secretion of both VEGF and sFlt-1 was detected in cultured OECs and OSFs and was found to have been stimulated under hypoxic conditions in these cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that hypoxia in the local environment may stimulate oviductal vascular permeability by inducing the production of VEGF by oviductal cells. Simultaneous up-regulation of sFlt-1 secretion by these cells under hypoxic conditions may prevent excessive up-regulation of vascular permeability. The modulation of the bias of VEGF and sFlt-1 in the fallopian tubes may contribute to the normal and pathological processes of oviductal fluid secretion by regulating oviductal vascular permeability during the menstrual cycle.
Itoh
Hiroko
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan.
Nasu
Kaei
K
Matsumoto
Harunobu
H
Kawano
Yasushi
Y
Yoshimatsu
Jun
J
Narahara
Hisashi
H
D000328:Adult; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006801:Humans; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D010100:Oxygen