PET (pre-eclamptic toxaemia) has recently been linked with alterations in production of a VEGFR1 [VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) receptor 1] splice variant that acts as a circulating inhibitor. We have recently described a family of naturally occurring splice variants of VEGF, termed VEGFxxxb, that also appear to act as inhibitors of conventional VEGFxxx-mediated angiogenesis. To determine whether alteration in splicing of VEGF–VEGFR family members extended beyond VEGFR1, we investigated the effect of pre-eclampsia on placental VEGFxxxb mRNA and protein expression. VEGFxxx and VEGFxxxb mRNA and protein were both found in normal human term placentae. VEGFxxx protein formed the majority of the total VEGF protein (980±195 pg/mg), whereas VEGFxxxb (11.5 pg/mg) was found to form a small part of the total VEGF protein expression (1.5±0.24%). Evidence for VEGF165b, VEGF121b and VEGF145b expression was found. In pre-eclamptic placentae, there was a significant down-regulation of VEGFxxxb isoforms, but a small up-regulation of VEGFxxx isoforms. In normal placenta VEGFxxxb and VEGFxxx concentrations were positively correlated (r=0.69, P<0.02), whereas in pre-eclamptic placentae, there was a significant negative correlation between VEGFxxxb and VEGFxxx protein expression (r=−0.8, P<0.02), indicating that there was a significant uncoupling of the splicing regulation of the VEGF isoforms. Combined with previous studies showing increased soluble VEGFR1 isoforms in human pre-eclampsia, these data suggest that there may be a common mechanism in pre-eclampsia that involves dysregulation of mRNA splicing of members of the VEGF–VEGFR axis.
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Research Article|
April 11 2006
The endogenous anti-angiogenic family of splice variants of VEGF, VEGFxxxb, are down-regulated in pre-eclamptic placentae at term
David O. Bates;
*Microvascular Research Laboratories, Department of Physiology, Preclinical Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8EJ, U.K.
Correspondence: Dr David Bates (email [email protected]).
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Philip P. MacMillan;
Philip P. MacMillan
*Microvascular Research Laboratories, Department of Physiology, Preclinical Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8EJ, U.K.
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Joseph G. Manjaly;
Joseph G. Manjaly
*Microvascular Research Laboratories, Department of Physiology, Preclinical Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8EJ, U.K.
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Yan Qiu;
Yan Qiu
*Microvascular Research Laboratories, Department of Physiology, Preclinical Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8EJ, U.K.
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Sarah J. Hudson;
Sarah J. Hudson
†School of Medical Sciences, Department of Physiology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8EJ, U.K.
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Heather S. Bevan;
Heather S. Bevan
*Microvascular Research Laboratories, Department of Physiology, Preclinical Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8EJ, U.K.
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Alyson J. Hunter;
Alyson J. Hunter
‡Department of Obstetrics, St Michael's Hospital, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K.
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Peter W. Soothill;
Peter W. Soothill
‡Department of Obstetrics, St Michael's Hospital, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K.
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Michael Read;
Michael Read
§Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gloucester Royal Hospital, Gloucester GL1 3NN, U.K.
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Lucy F. Donaldson;
Lucy F. Donaldson
†School of Medical Sciences, Department of Physiology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8EJ, U.K.
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Steven J. Harper
Steven J. Harper
*Microvascular Research Laboratories, Department of Physiology, Preclinical Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8EJ, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
September 26 2005
Revision Received:
January 04 2006
Accepted:
January 12 2006
Accepted Manuscript online:
January 12 2006
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society
2006
Clin Sci (Lond) (2006) 110 (5): 575–585.
Article history
Received:
September 26 2005
Revision Received:
January 04 2006
Accepted:
January 12 2006
Accepted Manuscript online:
January 12 2006
Citation
David O. Bates, Philip P. MacMillan, Joseph G. Manjaly, Yan Qiu, Sarah J. Hudson, Heather S. Bevan, Alyson J. Hunter, Peter W. Soothill, Michael Read, Lucy F. Donaldson, Steven J. Harper; The endogenous anti-angiogenic family of splice variants of VEGF, VEGFxxxb, are down-regulated in pre-eclamptic placentae at term. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 May 2006; 110 (5): 575–585. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20050292
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