Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenetic factor that promotes endothelial cell proliferation during development and after injury to various types of tissue, including the central nervous system (CNS). Using immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization methods we have here demonstrated that VEGF and its receptors Flk-1, Flt-1 and Neuropilin-1 mRNAs and proteins are induced after incisions in the rat spinal cord. The inducible enzyme for prostaglandin synthesis cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is known to be upregulated after spinal injury, cerebral ischemia and to stimulate angiogenesis. To test the hypothesis that prostaglandins may be involved in the VEGF response after lesion we investigated whether intraspinal microinjections of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) alters VEGF expression in the spinal cord. Such treatment was followed by a strong upregulation of VEGF mRNA and protein in the injection area. Finally, by use of an in vitro model with cell cultures of meningeal fibroblast and astrocyte origin, resembling the lesion area cellular content after spinal cord injury but devoid of inflammatory cells, we showed that VEGF is expressed in this in vitro model cell system after treatment with PGF2alpha and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). These data suggest that cells within a lesion area in the spinal cord are capable of expressing VEGF and its receptors in response to mechanical injury and that prostaglandins may induce VEGF expression in such cells, even in the absence of inflammatory cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Astrocytes / cytology
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Astrocytes / drug effects
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Astrocytes / metabolism
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Cells, Cultured
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Cicatrix / drug therapy
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Cicatrix / pathology
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Cicatrix / physiopathology
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Endothelial Growth Factors / genetics
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Endothelial Growth Factors / metabolism*
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Female
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Fetus / cytology
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Fetus / drug effects
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Fetus / metabolism
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Fibroblasts / cytology
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Fibroblasts / drug effects
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Fibroblasts / metabolism
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Interferon-gamma / metabolism
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Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
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Lymphokines / genetics
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Lymphokines / metabolism*
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Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
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Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
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Neovascularization, Pathologic / physiopathology*
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Prostaglandins / metabolism
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Prostaglandins / pharmacology*
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
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Receptors, Growth Factor / genetics
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Receptors, Growth Factor / metabolism*
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Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
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Spinal Cord / drug effects
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Spinal Cord / metabolism*
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Spinal Cord / pathology
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Spinal Cord / physiopathology
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Spinal Cord Injuries / drug therapy
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Spinal Cord Injuries / metabolism*
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Spinal Cord Injuries / pathology
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Spinal Cord Injuries / physiopathology
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Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
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Transforming Growth Factor beta / pharmacology
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
Substances
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Endothelial Growth Factors
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Lymphokines
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Prostaglandins
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptors, Growth Factor
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Transforming Growth Factor beta
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
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Interferon-gamma
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor