Expression of Total Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and the Anti-angiogenic VEGF 165 b Isoform in the Vitreous of Patients with Retinopathy of Prematurity
- Resource Type
- article
- Authors
- Min Zhao; Wan-Kun Xie; Yu-Jing Bai; Lyu-Zhen Huang; Bin Wang; Jian-Hong Liang; Hong Yin; Xiao-Xin Li; Xuan Shi
- Source
- Chinese Medical Journal, Vol 128, Iss 18, Pp 2505-2509 (2015)
- Subject
- Neovascularization
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
VEGFxxx
VEGFxxxb
Medicine
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 0366-6999
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.