title: Induction of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 expression in perivascular cells of the ischemic core following focal cerebral ischemia in rats.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-3, a receptor for VEGF-C and VEGF-D, has recently been reported to be induced within vessel-like structures in the ischemic brain. The purpose of the present study was to characterize and define further the cellular phenotypes of vascular-associated cells that manifest induced VEGFR-3 expression in a rat model of ischemic stroke. Vessel-associated cells expressing VEGFR-3 were found to be perivascular astrocytes in the peri-infarct region, whereas in the ischemic core, where astrocytes had virtually disappeared, induction of VEGFR-3 mRNA and protein was still prominent in vascular structures 3-7 days after reperfusion. VEGFR-3 and nestin expression were colocated in almost all cells associated with the vasculature in the ischemic core, and most (~82%) of the VEGFR-3/nestin double-labeled cells were proliferative. A subpopulation of these VEGFR-3-expressing cells appeared to be included in two immunophenotypically distinct perivascular cells: NG2-positive pericytes and ED2- or OX6-perivascular macrophages. However, most of these cells did not show markers for vasculature-associated cell types such as endothelial cells, microglia/macrophages, and smooth muscle cells. Thus, our data indicated that vasculature-associated VEGFR-3-expressing cells in the ischemic core may represent a heterogeneous population of cells with functional diversity, rather than a uniform cell type.
authors: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 137-701 Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yoo-Jin
authors: YJ
authors: Shin
authors: Jang-Mi
authors: JM
authors: Park
authors: Jeong Min
authors: JM
authors: Cho
authors: Jung-Ho
authors: JH
authors: Cha
authors: Seong Yun
authors: SY
authors: Kim
authors: Mun-Yong
authors: MY
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064231:Nestin; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine