title: Intestinal vascular endothelial growth factor is decreased in necrotizing enterocolitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Decreased intestinal perfusion may contribute to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic protein necessary for the development and maintenance of capillary networks. Whether VEGF is dysregulated in NEC remains unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine whether intestinal VEGF expression is altered in a neonatal mouse model of NEC and in human NEC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We first assessed changes of intestinal VEGF mRNA and protein in a neonatal mouse NEC model before significant injury occurs. We then examined whether exposure to formula feeding, bacterial inoculation, cold stress and/or intermittent hypoxia affected intestinal VEGF expression. Last, we visualized VEGF protein in intestinal tissues of murine and human NEC and control cases by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intestinal VEGF protein and mRNA were significantly decreased in pups exposed to the NEC protocol compared to controls. Hypoxia, cold stress and commensal bacteria, when administered together, significantly downregulated intestinal VEGF expression, while they had no significant effect when given alone. VEGF was localized to a few single intestinal epithelial cells and some cells of the lamina propria and myenteric plexus. VEGF staining was decreased in murine and human NEC intestines when compared to control tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intestinal VEGF protein is reduced in human and experimental NEC. Decreased VEGF production might contribute to NEC pathogenesis.
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill., USA.
authors: Animesh
authors: A
authors: Sabnis
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Carrasco
authors: Shirley X L
authors: SX
authors: Liu
authors: Xiaocai
authors: X
authors: Yan
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Managlia
authors: Pauline M
authors: PM
authors: Chou
authors: Xiao-Di
authors: XD
authors: Tan
authors: Isabelle G
authors: IG
authors: De Plaen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D058639:Cold-Shock Response; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse