Expression of VEGF and its receptors Flt-1 and Flk-1/KDR is altered in lambs with increased pulmonary blood flow and pulmonary hypertension

Eugenia Mata-Greenwood, Barbara Meyrick, Scott J. Soifer, Jeffrey R. Fineman, Stephen M. Black

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

Utilizing in utero aortopulmonary vascular graft placement, we developed a lamb model of congenital heart disease and increased pulmonary blood flow. We showed previously that these lambs have increased pulmonary vessel number at 4 wk of age. To determine whether this was associated with alterations in VEGF signaling, we investigated vascular changes in expression of VEGF and its receptors, Flt-1 and KDR/Flk-1, in the lungs of shunted and age-raatched control lambs during the first 8 wk of life. Western blot analysis demonstrated that VEGF, Flt-1, and KDR/Flk-1 expression was higher in shunted lambs. VEGF and Flt-1 Expression was increased at 4 and 8 wk of age (P <0.05). However, KDR/Flk-1 expression was higher in shunted lambs only at 1 and 4 wk of age (P <0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that, in control and shunted lambs, VEGF localized to the smooth muscle layer of vessels and airways and to the pulmonary epithelium while increased VEGF expression was localized to the smooth muscle layer of thickened media in remodeled vessels in shunted lambs. VEGF receptors were localized exclusively in the endothelium of pulmonary vessels. Flt-1 was increased in the endothelium of small pulmonary arteries in shunted animals at 4 and 8 wk of age, whereas KDR/Flk-1 was increased in small pulmonary arteries at 1 and 4 wk of age. Our data suggest that increased pulmonary blood flow upregulates expression of VEGF and its receptors, and this may be important in development of the vascular remodeling in shunted lambs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)L222-L231
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Volume285
Issue number1 29-1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Shunted lambs
  • Vascular graft placement

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)
  • Cell Biology

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