title: VEGF 165 b in the developing vasculatures of the fetal human eye.
abstract: VEGF(165) b is an anti-angiogenic form of VEGF(165) produced by alternative splicing. The localization of pro-angiogenic VEGF(165) and anti-angiogenic VEGF(165) b was investigated during development of the vasculatures in fetal human eyes from 7 to 21 weeks gestation (WG). The fetal vasculature of vitreous, which includes tunica vasculosa lentis (TVL), had moderate VEGF(165) immunoreactivity at 7WG and very little VEGF(165) b. Both forms were elevated at 12WG. VEGF(165) then decreased around 17WG when the TVL regresses but VEGF(165) b remained elevated. In choroid, VEGF(165) was present in forming choriocapillaris (CC) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) at 7WG while VEGF165b was present in CC and mesenchymal precursors within the choroidal stroma. By 21WG, both forms were elevated in RPE and choroidal blood vessels but VEGF(165) b was apical and VEGF(165) basal in RPE. Diffuse VEGF(165) immunoreactivity was prominent in 12WG innermost retina where blood vessels will form while VEGF(165) b was present in most CXCR4(+) progenitors in the inner neuroblastic layer and migrating angioblasts in the putative nerve fiber layer. By 21WG, VEGF(165) was present in nerve fibers and VEGF(165) b in the inner Muller cell process. The localization of VEGF(165) b was distinctly different from VEGF(165) both spatially and temporally and it was often associated with nucleus in progenitors.
authors.affiliation: Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: D Scott
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.forename: Malia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merges
authors.forename: Tanusree
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Debasish
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Gerard A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lutty
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A