title: Vascular endothelial growth factor C is increased in endometrium and promotes endothelial functions, vascular permeability and angiogenesis and growth of endometriosis.
abstract: Endometriosis is an angiogenesis-dependent disease. Many studies demonstrated inhibition of angiogenesis leads to inhibition of endometriotic growth, however underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. Our previous study suggested vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) as a target of anti-angiogenesis therapy for endometriosis. In this study, VEGF-C in endometrium and its role in angiogenesis of endometriosis were studied. Human endometrium were obtained from women with and without endometriosis for molecular studies. VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C and VEGF-D mRNA and proteins in eutopic and ectopic endometrium were measured. Human endothelial cells were transfected with VEGF-C siRNA in vitro, effects of VEGF-C on endothelial cell migration, invasion and tube formation were investigated in vitro. Angiogenesis was inhibited in wild type mice, vascular permeability in dermal skin was determined in vivo. Transplanted endometrium were inhibited by VEGF-C siRNA in immunocompromised mice, development, growth and angiogenesis of the experimental endometriosis were compared in vivo. The results showed that VEGF-C mRNA and protein were increased in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis patients. VEGF-C siRNA significantly inhibited endothelial cell migration and tube formation. VEGF-C siRNA significantly inhibited development and angiogenesis of the experimental endometriotic lesions in mice. Supplementation and over-expression of VEGF-C significantly reversed the inhibitory effects on the endothelial functions, vascular permeability and endometriotic growth. In conclusion, VEGF-C is increased in endometrium and it promotes endothelial functions, vascular permeability and development of experimental endometriosis. VEGF-C is important for angiogenesis in endometriosis.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Xu
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Zhang
authors: Gene Chi Wai
authors: GC
authors: Man
authors: Katie E
authors: KE
authors: May
authors: Christian M
authors: CM
authors: Becker
authors: Tina N
authors: TN
authors: Davis
authors: Andrew L
authors: AL
authors: Kung
authors: Amy E
authors: AE
authors: Birsner
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: D'Amato
authors: Alice Wai Yee
authors: AW
authors: Wong
authors: Chi Chiu
authors: CC
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C