title: Differential expression of capillary VEGF isoforms following traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While it is known that angiogenesis occurs after trauma, we sought to characterize the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) subtypes, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and angiopoietin within capillaries of animals subjected to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Further, we sought to characterize pericyte cell death in isolated capillaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used Marmarou's acceleration impact model to induce head trauma and measured VEGF, VEGFR2 and angiopoietin levels in isolated capillaries. TUNEL was used to determine pericyte cell death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VEGF response was restricted to the VEGF120 isoform. No increase in transcripts for VEGF164 and VEGF188 was observed. VEGFR2 was marginally increased and angiopoietin was increased. A subset of pericytes were TUNEL-positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show a distinct expression pattern of angiogenic factors following injury and suggest that pericyte involvement in adaptive angiogenesis may be altered following TBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroimmunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, MI 48201, USA. pdduffy@med.wayne.edu
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dore-Duffy
authors.forename: Xueqain
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Afroza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehedi
authors.forename: Christian W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kreipke
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rafols
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D020286:Pericytes / Q000473:pathology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat