title: The diminished expression of proangiogenic growth factors and their receptors in gastric ulcers of cirrhotic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pathogenesis of the higher occurrence of peptic ulcer disease in cirrhotic patients is complex. Platelets can stimulate angiogenesis and promote gastric ulcer healing. We compared the expressions of proangiogenic growth factors and their receptors in the gastric ulcer margin between cirrhotic patients with thrombocytopenia and those of non-cirrhotic patients to elucidate possible mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible cirrhotic patients (n = 55) and non-cirrhotic patients (n = 55) who had gastric ulcers were enrolled. Mucosa from the gastric ulcer margin and non-ulcer areas were sampled and the mRNA expressions of the proangiogenic growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], platelet derived growth factor [PDGF], basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF]) and their receptors (VEGFR1, VEGFR2, PDGFRA, PDGFRB, FGFR1, FGFR2) were measured and compared. Platelet count and the expressions of these growth factors and their receptors were correlated with each other.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups were comparable in terms of gender, ulcer size and infection rate of Helicobacter pylori. However, the cirrhotic group were younger in age, had a lower platelet count than those in the non-cirrhotic group (p<0.05). The cirrhotic patients had diminished mRNA expressions of PDGFB, VEGFR2, FGFR1, and FGFR2 in gastric ulcer margin when compared with those of the non-cirrhotic patients (p<0.05). Diminished expressions of PDGFB and VEGFR2, FGFR1, and FGFR2 were well correlated with the degree of thrombocytopenia in these cirrhotic patients (ρ>0.5, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings implied that diminished activity of proangiogenic factors and their receptors may contribute to the pathogenesis of gastric ulcers in cirrhotic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. jcluo@vghtpe.gov.tw
authors.forename: Jiing-Chyuan
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yen-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Ming-Chih
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Kuang-Wei
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hui-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ying-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Han-Chieh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Fa-Yauh
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ching-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C496348:FGFR1 protein, human; C496353:FGFR2 protein, human; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2