title: Increasing levels of TNFalpha are associated with increased brain perfusion.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: p.j.vanlaar@azu.nl.
authors.forename: Peter Jan
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van Laar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Science and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A Fleur
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: van Raamt
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Grond
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willem P T M
authors.initials: WPTM
authors.lastname: Mali
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Science and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: van der Graaf
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hendrikse
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha