To evaluate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, we measured total VEGF, free VEGF and soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1) concentrations and determined their relationships. Maternal serum samples were collected from 20 patients with preeclampsia and 20 normotensive women with uncomplicated pregnancies matched with the patients with preeclampsia for gest...

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has a key role in angiogene-sis and in transplantation. The level of VEGF is related to the differences in the DNA sequence of its promoter region. Objectives: In this study, the association between the combination of VEGF –1154 G and –2578 C alleles and VEGF production by LPS-stimulated PBMCs was investigated. In addition; the relationship ...

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine with distinct functions in angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, vascular permeability, and hematopoiesis. VEGF is a highly conserved, disulfide-bonded dimeric glycoprotein of 34 to 45 kDa produced by several cell types including fibroblasts, neutrophils, endothelial cells, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, particularly T ...

Both VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)-A and Orf-virus-encoded VEGF-E bind and activate VEGFR (VEGF receptor)-2; however, only VEGF-A binds VEGFR-1. To understand the biological differences between VEGF-A and VEGF-E in vivo, we established transgenic mouse models. K14 (keratin-14)-promoter-driven VEGF-E transgenic mice showed a significant increase in mature blood vessels. However, K14-...

Recent experiments show that hematopoietic progenitor cell populations contain endothelial precursor cells. We have isolated a population of CD34(+) cells that expresses fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) and that differentiates into endothelial cells in vitro. We find that 4.5% +/- 2.1% of CD34(+) cells isolated from bone marrow, cord blood, and mobilized peripheral blood express FGF...

OBJECTIVE In angiogenesis, circulating mononuclear cells are recruited to vascular lesions; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. APPROACH AND RESULTS Here, we characterize the functional role of protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7)-expressing CD11b(+) mononuclear cells in vitro and in vivo using a mouse model of angiogenesis. Although the frequencies of PTK7(+)CD11b(+) cells ...

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy caused by abnormal placental function, partly because of chronic hypoxia at the utero-placental junction. The increase in levels of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1, an antiangiogenic agent known to inhibit placental vascularization, is an important cellular factor implicated in the onset of preeclampsia. We investigated ...