Overexpression of VEGF165b, an Inhibitory Splice Variant of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Leads to Insufficient Angiogenesis in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

• Published in: Circulation research Vol. 109; no. 3; pp. e14 - e26
• Main Authors: Manetti, Mirko, Guiducci, Serena, Romano, Eloisa, Ceccarelli, Claudia, Bellando-Randone, Silvia, Conforti, Maria Letizia, Ibba-Manneschi, Lidia, Matucci-Cerinic, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Heart Association, Inc 22.07.2011
• Subjects: Alternative Splicing - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Culture Media, Conditioned - pharmacology; Dermis - blood supply; Endothelial Cells - cytology; Endothelial Cells - physiology; Gene Expression - drug effects; Gene Expression - physiology; Humans; Ischemia - genetics; Ischemia - metabolism; Ischemia - physiopathology; Neovascularization, Pathologic - genetics; Neovascularization, Pathologic - metabolism; Neovascularization, Pathologic - physiopathology; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Phosphoproteins - genetics; Phosphoproteins - metabolism; Phosphorylation - drug effects; Phosphorylation - physiology; RNA-Binding Proteins; Scleroderma, Systemic - genetics; Scleroderma, Systemic - metabolism; Scleroderma, Systemic - physiopathology; Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Signal Transduction - physiology; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - genetics; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - metabolism; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - pharmacology; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - pharmacology; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B - pharmacology; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 - metabolism

RATIONALE:Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by widespread microangiopathy, fibrosis, and autoimmunity. Despite the lack of angiogenesis, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) was shown to be upregulated in SSc skin and circulation; however, previous studies did not di...