title: Regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor synthesis and release by human luteal cells in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is essential for normal luteal development and function, but little is still known about the regulation of its production by human midluteal phase luteal cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or local factors, including chemical hypoxia, IGF-I and IGF-II, prostaglandin (PG)E(2), and PGF(2alpha) prevail in modulating VEGF mRNA and protein production in human midluteal phase luteal cells. The effect of progesterone (P) on luteal VEGF mRNA expression and protein secretion was also evaluated. Finally, we investigated whether VEGF could directly affect luteal P secretion.
  
  
  METHODS
  In human midluteal phase luteal cells, VEGF mRNA expression was evaluated by semiquantitative RT-PCR, whereas VEGF and P release was evaluated by ELISA and RIA, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  hCG was unable to significantly affect luteal VEGF mRNA and protein synthesis, which in turn was significantly increased by both chemical hypoxia and IGFs. Conversely, VEGF mRNA and protein production was reduced by PGs and P. Finally, VEGF did not affect P luteal secretion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that local ovarian factors, rather than hCG, predominate in regulating VEGF mRNA and protein production by human midluteal phase luteal cells. For VEGF, a lack of a direct luteal steroidogenic effect was also demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Fisiopatologia della Riproduzione Umana, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tropea
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miceli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minici
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tiberi
authors.forename: Mariateresa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gangale
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catino
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Navarra
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzone
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Apa
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008184:Luteal Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D011374:Progesterone; D015232:Dinoprostone