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Evaluating Vascular Hyperpermeability-inducing Agents in the Skin with the Miles Assay
Published on: June 19, 2018
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Evaluating VEGF-Induced Vascular Leakage Using the Miles Assay
James T Brash1, Christiana Ruhrberg1, Alessandro Fantin2
1UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|April 22, 2022
Summary
The Miles assay quantifies vascular leakage by measuring dye extravasation. This method uses Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF) to induce and assess blood vessel permeability in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Physiology
- Biomedical Research
Background:
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF) is known to induce vascular leakage.
- The Miles assay is a standard in vivo method for studying vascular permeability.
- Understanding VEGF-induced vascular leakage is crucial for various physiological and pathological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the protocol for quantifying VEGF-induced vascular leakage using the Miles assay.
- To provide a method for assessing blood vessel permeability.
- To highlight the utility of the Miles assay in studying permeability factors.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous injection of Evans Blue dye in mice.
- Local intradermal injection of VEGF.
- Quantification of Evans Blue dye extravasation in the skin as a measure of vascular leakage.
Main Results:
- VEGF administration leads to increased vascular permeability in the dermis.
- The extravasation of Evans Blue-labeled albumin is proportional to the degree of vascular leak.
- The Miles assay provides a quantifiable measure of VEGF-induced vascular leakage.
Conclusions:
- The Miles assay is an effective and simple technique for measuring VEGF-induced vascular leakage.
- This protocol facilitates the study of molecular mechanisms underlying vascular permeability.
- The method is applicable to other agents that induce vascular leakage.
