title: VEGF and TGF-beta are required for the maintenance of the choroid plexus and ependyma.
abstract: Although the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in developmental and pathological angiogenesis is well established, its function in the adult is less clear. Similarly, although transforming growth factor (TGF) beta is involved in angiogenesis, presumably by mediating capillary (endothelial cell [EC]) stability, its involvement in quiescent vasculature is virtually uninvestigated. Given the neurological findings in patients treated with VEGF-neutralizing therapy (bevacizumab) and in patients with severe preeclampsia, which is mediated by soluble VEGF receptor 1/soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor 1 and soluble endoglin, a TGF-beta signaling inhibitor, we investigated the roles of VEGF and TGF-beta in choroid plexus (CP) integrity and function in adult mice. Receptors for VEGF and TGF-beta were detected in adult CP, as well as on ependymal cells. Inhibition of VEGF led to decreased CP vascular perfusion, which was associated with fibrin deposition. Simultaneous blockade of VEGF and TGF-beta resulted in the loss of fenestrae on CP vasculature and thickening of the otherwise attenuated capillary endothelium, as well as the disappearance of ependymal cell microvilli and the development of periventricular edema. These results provide compelling evidence that both VEGF and TGF-beta are involved in the regulation of EC stability, ependymal cell function, and periventricular permeability.
authors.affiliation: Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Arindel S R
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Maharaj
authors.forename: Tony E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Walshe
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saint-Geniez
authors.forename: Shivalingappa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venkatesha
authors.forename: Angel E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: Nathan C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Himes
authors.forename: Kabir S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Matharu
authors.forename: S Ananth
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Karumanchi
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: D'Amore
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004805:Ependyma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II