Related Experiment Videos
Vascular endothelial growth factor in inflammatory bowel disease
Andreas Kapsoritakis1, Aekaterini Sfiridaki, Efstratios Maltezos
1Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Larisa, Larisa, Greece.
International Journal of Colorectal Disease
|May 23, 2003
Summary
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) levels are lower in Crohn's disease patients, suggesting a defective response contributing to pathology. Ulcerative colitis appears less dependent on VEGF.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is crucial for tissue regeneration.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves intestinal inflammation, ulceration, and regeneration, suggesting a role for angiogenesis.
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a key regulator of angiogenesis and cell survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of VEGF in the pathology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
- To compare VEGF levels in patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD) against healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Measured plasma (pVEGF) and serum (sVEGF) levels in 50 UC patients, 44 CD patients, and 23 healthy controls.
- Assessed VEGF immunohistochemical expression in surgical tissue from 11 active IBD patients.
- Analyzed VEGF levels in relation to platelet activation markers.
Main Results:
- Serum VEGF levels were significantly higher than plasma VEGF levels.
- Plasma VEGF levels were significantly lower in active and quiescent CD patients compared to controls.
- VEGF expression was absent in the inflammatory infiltrate and fibroblasts but present in the intestinal epithelium of UC and normal controls, and absent in CD epithelium.
Conclusions:
- A defective VEGF response may be a critical factor in Crohn's disease pathology.
- The pathology of Ulcerative Colitis does not appear to be significantly dependent on VEGF.