title: [Effect of dexamethasone on expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor in hypoxic mice].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been proved that hypoxia is closely related to oncogenesis and development of tumor. The aim of this study is to observe the effect of dexamethasone on expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in lung tissues of hypoxic mice, and to investigate the relationship between hypoxia and angiogenesis and mechanism of dexamethasone.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group and three experimental groups (3-day hypoxia group, 6-day hypoxia group, and hypoxia+dexamethasone group). HIF-1α and VEGF protein expression was detected in lung tissues of mice by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of HIF-1α and VEGF significantly increased in hypoxia group compared with control group (P < 0.05). Compared with hypoxia group, expression of HIF-1α and VEGF decreased dramatically in hypoxia+dexamethasone group (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF (r=0.730, P=0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypoxia can increase the expression of VEGF and HIF-1α in lung tissues of mice. Dexamethasone can inhibit the expression of VEGF and HIF-1α of hypoxic mice and it may have anti-angiogenetic effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Yongxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Fuzhen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Yingjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma