Increasing levels of TNFalpha are associated with increased brain perfusion.
OBJECTIVE
Recent reports of animal models have shown that growth factors have stimulating effect on brain perfusion via the development of blood vessels. However, studies on the effect of growth factors on brain perfusion in humans are lacking. The aim of our study was to prospectively investigate in humans the relation between growth factors and brain perfusion.


METHODS
We analyzed circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating growth factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in 121 consecutive patients (99 men and 22 women, age 58+/-10 years) who were enrolled in a prospective cohort study of patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic disease. In all patients regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF; in mL/min/100g) measurements were performed with arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging. Cerebrovascular risk factors were assessed by means of a questionnaire and physical, ultrasonographic and laboratory examination.


RESULTS
Increasing levels of TNFalpha were significantly associated with a higher rCBF (beta=7.0; 95% confidence interval 0.7; 13.9), independent of the presence of cerebrovascular risk factors. No significant association was found for VEGF, GM-CSF and bFGF.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing levels of TNFalpha are associated with increased rCBF, independent of the presence of cerebrovascular risk factors.
van Laar
Peter Jan
PJ
Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: p.j.vanlaar@azu.nl.
van Raamt
A Fleur
AF
Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Science and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van der Grond
Jeroen
J
Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
Mali
Willem P T M
WPTM
Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van der Graaf
Yolanda
Y
Julius Center for Health Science and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Hendrikse
Jeroen
J
Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha