Since atherosclerosis is characterized by endothelial damage, re-growth seems likely to be occurring in order to repair or replace injured cells. Angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a likely mediator of these events, acts on the endothelium via a specific receptor, Flt-1. We hypothesized that patients with different manifestations of atherosclerosis, and others with diabetes, would have altered plasma levels of VEGF and Flt-1 compared with healthy individuals. Accordingly, 70 patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), 70 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and 70 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. We also recruited 14 patients with diabetes asymptomatic for atherosclerosis, 14 patients with diabetes and atherosclerosis, and 14 age- and sex-matched controls. VEGF and soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1) were measured by ELISA. In the main study of PAD and CAD, VEGF was raised in both patient groups (P < 0.05) compared with the controls, but was not different between the patient groups. sFlt-1 was lower in patients with PAD (P < 0.05), but not in those with CAD, compared with the controls. VEGF was raised in the patients with diabetes plus atherosclerosis (P < 0.05), but not in the group with diabetes alone; levels of sFlt-1 were unaltered in both diabetes groups. Our data point to changes in plasma levels of VEGF and its receptor sFlt-1 in diabetes and atherosclerosis that may have relevance for therapy and angiogenesis in these conditions.
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January 03 2002
Vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor, Flt-1, in the plasma of patients with coronary or peripheral atherosclerosis, or Type II diabetes
Andrew D. BLANN;
*Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, U.K.
Correspondence: Dr A. D. Blann (e-mail [email protected]).
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Funmi M. BELGORE;
Funmi M. BELGORE
*Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, U.K.
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Charles N. McCOLLUM;
Charles N. McCOLLUM
†University Department of Surgery, University Hospital of South Manchester, Nell Lane, Manchester M20 8LR, U.K.
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Stanley SILVERMAN;
Stanley SILVERMAN
‡Department of Surgery, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, U.K.
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Peck Lin LIP;
Peck Lin LIP
*Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, U.K.
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Gregory Y.H. LIP
Gregory Y.H. LIP
*Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
May 31 2001
Revision Received:
August 14 2001
Accepted:
September 21 2001
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society © 2002
2002
Clin Sci (Lond) (2002) 102 (2): 187–194.
Article history
Received:
May 31 2001
Revision Received:
August 14 2001
Accepted:
September 21 2001
Citation
Andrew D. BLANN, Funmi M. BELGORE, Charles N. McCOLLUM, Stanley SILVERMAN, Peck Lin LIP, Gregory Y.H. LIP; Vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor, Flt-1, in the plasma of patients with coronary or peripheral atherosclerosis, or Type II diabetes. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 February 2002; 102 (2): 187–194. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs1020187
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