Lentivirus-mediated sFlt-1 gene fragment transfer suppresses retinal neovascularization

sFlt-1, a soluble secreted variant of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-1 that possesses only its extracellular domain, is a specific endogenous inhibitor of VEGF, which is involved in retinal vasculogenesis. Our objective was to determine the effects of various sFlt-1 gene fragments on retinal neovascularization in vivo using a murine oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy (OIR) model.

Lentiviral expression plasmids carrying the sFlt-1 gene fragments containing Ig-like domains 2nd-3rd and 2nd-4th were constructed. Retinal neovascularization was induced by exposing neonatal mice to hyperoxia (75% O(2)) on post-natal day 7 (P7) and then returning them to normoxia (21% O(2)) on P12. After sFlt-1 gene fragment transfer, retinal neovascularization was examined via fluorescein angiography and hematoxylin-eosin staining. In addition, changes in the expression of VEGF and its functional receptor KDR/Flk-1 were examined via Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

Lenti.sFlt-1(2-3) and lenti.sFlt-1(2-4) both significantly inhibited neovascularization in OIR mice. Retinas from mice treated with lenti.sFlt-1(2-3) demonstrated a more marked reduction in neovascular cell nuclei compared with mice treated with lenti.sFlt-1(2-4), and these results were confirmed by fluorescence angiography. Gene transfer showed a very weak effect on VEGF protein expression, whereas KDR/Flk-1 protein expression was strongly inhibited, particularly in mice treated with lenti.sFlt-1(2-3).

Lentivirus-mediated sFlt-1 gene transfer significantly inhibits retinal neovascularization in OIR. Thus, sFlt-1 gene transfer may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing retinal neovascularization.