Role of vascular endothelial growth factor A in children with acquired airway stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is important in the angiogenic response for wound healing. This study investigated whether VEGF-A may play a role in the pathogenesis of acquired airway stenosis.


METHODS
Eight lesions from 5 pediatric patients with subglottic stenosis after airway reconstruction (N = 4) or prolonged intubation (N = 1) and normal laryngeal tissue from 5 autopsy patients were included. Formalin-fixed sections of subglottic tissue from each patient were examined by in situ hybridization for the presence of messenger RNA (mRNA) for VEGF-A, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2).


RESULTS
Strong expression of VEGF-A mRNA was noted in hyperplastic squamous epithelium overlying granulation tissue. Strong expression of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 was noted in the endothelial cells within granulation tissue. No strong labeling of VEGF-A mRNA or its receptors was noted in 2 specimens with mature scar tissue or in the control specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
The angiogenic growth factor VEGF-A is strongly expressed in hyperplastic epithelium overlying granulation tissue in airway stenosis. Also, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 mRNAs are strongly expressed in the endothelial cells of granulation tissue. This finding suggests an important role of VEGF-A in the pathogenesis of airway scar formation and stenosis.
Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Disorders, Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Reza
R
Rahbar
Lawrence F
LF
Brown
Judah
J
Folkman
Trevor J
TJ
McGill
Gerald B
GB
Healy
Guanmei
G
Liu
Sara O
SO
Vargas
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007223:Infant; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2