Abstract
To determine the contribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to cerebral edema formation in bacterial meningitis, we used a VEGF neutralizing antibody to block VEGF in rabbits, following induction of meningitis by intracisternal inoculation with 10(9) heat-killed pneumococci. At 8 h, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) VEGF was significantly elevated in infected untreated animals, and correlated with CSF white blood cell (WBC) count (r=0.56, P=0.004), and brain water content (r=0.42, P=0.04). Blocking of VEGF did not attenuate brain edema, blood-brain barrier disruption, or CSF pleocytosis. The functional role of VEGF in the pathophysiology of BM remains elusive.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies, Blocking / administration & dosage*
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Antibodies, Blocking / pharmacology
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Bevacizumab
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Brain Edema / blood
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Brain Edema / cerebrospinal fluid
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Brain Edema / immunology*
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Brain Edema / physiopathology*
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Capillary Permeability / immunology*
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Cell Movement / immunology
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Cisterna Magna
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Female
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Humans
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Injections, Intravenous
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Leukocytes / immunology
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Leukocytes / pathology
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Meningitis, Pneumococcal / blood
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Meningitis, Pneumococcal / cerebrospinal fluid
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Meningitis, Pneumococcal / immunology*
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Meningitis, Pneumococcal / physiopathology*
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Mice
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Rabbits
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / blood
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / cerebrospinal fluid
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / immunology*
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Water-Electrolyte Balance
Substances
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Antibodies, Blocking
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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Bevacizumab