title: Evaluation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Its Receptors in Human Neointima.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The potential contribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in neointima development has been evaluated in numerous animal studies. However, its role remains controversial. Moreover, little is known about neointima formation in humans. In this study we assessed the expression of VEGF-A and its receptors in the human neointima formed within vascular anastomosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The studied material comprised neointima samples harvested during secondary vascular operations from patients with chronic limb ischemia after aorto-/iliofemoral bypass grafting who developed vascular graft occlusion at 6-18 months after the initial surgical treatment. The control material consisted of segments of femoral arteries without visible macroscopic lesions collected from organ donors. The expression and content of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 were analyzed with PCR and ELISA methods, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a significantly increased expression of VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 mRNA in neointima compared to the normal aorta. A significantly higher protein content of VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 in neointima samples compared to the controls was also observed. No significant difference of VEGFR-1 content and VEGFR-1 mRNA expression was found in the studied material.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate a possible involvement of the VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 system in the pathologic process of human neointima formation after vascular interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Biax0142;ystok, Biax0142;ystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruczko
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolańska
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Małkowski
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sobolewski
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kowalewski
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D058426:Neointima / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / 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: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; C000588866:KDR protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2