title: Altered angiogenesis in low birth weight individuals: a role for anti-angiogenic circulating factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low birth weight (LBW) is a risk factor for hypertension at adulthood. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) dysfunction has been characterized in LBW neonates. We hypothesized that changes in soluble, plasma pro- or anti-angiogenic factors are associated with EPCs dysfunction and impaired angiogenesis in LBW neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Venous umbilical cord blood was collected from 42 normal, term neonates and 75 LBW neonates. Cord blood endothelial colony forming cells (ECFC) from control patients were cultured in the presence of 10% of serum obtained from both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proliferation and the migration of ECFC were significantly reduced when cultured with 10% of serum of LBW neonates compared to serum of control neonates. Matrigel invasion assay was not significantly altered. Umbilical vein plasma VEGF concentration was significantly reduced in LBW neonates while that of sVEGFR and PF4 were significantly higher. Addition of VEGF corrected the inhibitory effect of LBW serum on normal ECFC proliferation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum obtained from LBW babies contains factors that exhibit an antiangiogenic effect on ECFC proliferation and migration. VEGF/sVEGF/PF4 pathway seems to be involved in the EPCs dysfunction in LBW neonates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, La Conception Hospital , Marseille , France .
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ligi
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simoncini
authors.forename: Edwige
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tellier
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grandvuillemin
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcelli
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bikfalvi
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buffat
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dignat-George
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anfosso
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Simeoni
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D000071063:Endoglin; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000097:blood*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D015415:Biomarkers; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C481348:SPZ1 protein, human; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D010978:Platelet Factor 4; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1