title: Expression of Total Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and the Anti-angiogenic VEGF 165 b Isoform in the Vitreous of Patients with Retinopathy of Prematurity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was to examine the expression of total vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the anti-angiogenic VEGF 165 b isoform in the vitreous body of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) patients, and to further study the role of the VEGF splicing in the development of ROP.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective clinical laboratory investigation study. All patients enrolled received standard ophthalmic examination with stage 4 ROP that required vitrectomy to collect the vitreous samples. The control samples were from congenital cataract patients. The expression of total VEGF and the anti-angiogenic VEGF 165 b were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results were analyzed statistically using nonparametric tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total VEGF level was markedly elevated in ROP samples while VEGF 165 b was markedly decreased compared to control group. The relative protein expression level of VEGF 165 b isoform was significantly decreased in ROP patients which were correlated with the ischemia-induced neovascularization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a switch of VEGF splicing from anti-angiogenic to pro-angiogenic family in ROP patients. A specific inhibitor that more selectively targets VEGF 165 and controls the VEGF splicing between pro- and anti-angiogenic families might be a more effective therapy for ROP.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wan-Kun
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yu-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Lyu-Zhen
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Xiao-Xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044; Key Laboratory of Vision Loss and Restoration, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100044; Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A