Growth Factors in the Human Preterm Lung VEGF AND HGF IN PULMONARY DEVELOPMENT AND IN ACUTE AND CHRONIC LUNG INJURY

................................................................................................................... 8 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 9 Review of the literature ............................................................................................. 10 1. Normal lung development ................................................................................ 10 1.1. Alveolar formation ................................................................................. 11 1.2. Lung vascular development .................................................................... 12 2. Lung injury in the newborn .............................................................................. 13 2.1. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) ....................................................... 13 2.1.1. Old BPD ..................................................................................... 13 2.1.1.1. Definition ......................................................................... 13 2.1.1.2. Affecting factors ................................................................ 14 2.1.1.3. Development of treatment ................................................. 15 2.1.2. New BPD .................................................................................... 15 2.1.2.1. Epidemiology .................................................................... 15 2.1.2.2. Pathophysiology ................................................................ 15 2.2. Glucocorticoids and the preterm infant .................................................. 16 2.2.1. Effects on lung development ........................................................ 16 2.2.2. Effects on preterm infant ............................................................. 17 2.3. Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn ................................ 17 3. Growth factors and the preterm lung ................................................................ 18 3.1. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) ............................................ 18 3.1.1. Background ................................................................................. 18 3.1.2. VEGF and lung development ...................................................... 20 3.1.3. VEGF and injury in the preterm lung.......................................... 21 3.2. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) ........................................................... 22 3.2.1. Background ................................................................................. 22 3.2.2. HGF and lung development ........................................................ 23 3.2.3. HGF and injury in the preterm lung ........................................... 23 Aims of the study ...................................................................................................... 25 Table of contents