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Vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in children with cyanotic congenital heart
S L Starnes1, B W Duncan, J M Kneebone
1Divisions of Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
Insights
Children with cyanotic heart disease show higher levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key factor in blood vessel growth. This suggests VEGF may drive the abnormal blood vessel formation seen in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Angiogenesis Research
Background:
- Cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) is associated with extensive collateral blood vessel formation.
- Abnormal angiogenesis, or the development of new blood vessels, is suspected in CCHD.
- Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are critical regulators of angiogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum levels of VEGF and bFGF in children with CCHD.
- To determine if elevated growth factor levels correlate with abnormal angiogenesis in CCHD.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples collected from 22 children with CCHD and 19 with acyanotic heart disease during cardiac catheterization.
- Blood samples were drawn from the superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, and a systemic artery.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) used to quantify VEGF and bFGF levels.
Main Results:
- VEGF levels were significantly elevated in the systemic artery and superior vena cava of children with CCHD.
- Mean VEGF levels across all sampling sites were significantly higher in the CCHD group.
- Basic fibroblast growth factor showed a significant elevation only in the systemic artery of CCHD patients.
Conclusions:
- Children with CCHD exhibit elevated systemic levels of VEGF.
- VEGF is implicated as a potential mediator of the widespread collateral vessel formation observed in CCHD.
- Findings highlight VEGF's role in the pathophysiology of congenital heart disease-related angiogenesis.
Objective:
Vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor are potent stimulators of angiogenesis. Children with cyanotic congenital heart disease often experience the development of widespread formation of collateral blood vessels, which may represent a form of abnormal angiogenesis. We undertook the present study to determine whether children with cyanotic congenital heart disease have elevated serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor.
Methods:
Serum was obtained from 22 children with cyanotic congenital heart disease and 19 children with acyanotic heart disease during cardiac catheterization. Samples were taken from the superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, and a systemic artery. Vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor levels were measured in the serum from each of these sites by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
Vascular endothelial growth factor was significantly elevated in the superior vena cava (P =.04) and systemic artery (P =.02) but not in the inferior vena cava (P =.2) of children with cyanotic congenital heart disease compared to children with acyanotic heart disease. The mean vascular endothelial growth factor level, determined by averaging the means of all 3 sites, was also significantly elevated (P =.03). Basic fibroblast growth factor was only significantly elevated in the systemic artery (P =.02).
Conclusion:
Children with cyanotic congenital heart disease have elevated systemic levels of vascular endothelial growth factor. These findings suggest that the widespread formation of collateral vessels in these children may be mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor.