Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0017636 (glioblastoma)
 18,345 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Inefficient vascular supply and the resultant reduction in tissue oxygen tension often lead to neovascularization in order to satisfy the needs of the tissue. Examples include the compensatory development of collateral blood vessels in ischaemic tissues that are otherwise quiescent for angiogenesis and angiogenesis associated with the healing of hypoxic wounds. But the presumptive hypoxia-induced angiogenic factors that mediate this feedback response have not been identified. Here we show that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; also known as vascular permeability factor) probably functions as a hypoxia-inducible angiogenic factor. VEGF messenger RNA levels are dramatically increased within a few hours of exposing different cell cultures to hypoxia and return to background when normal oxygen supply is resumed. In situ analysis of tumour specimens undergoing neovascularization show that the production of VEGF is specifically induced in a subset of glioblastoma cells distinguished by their immediate proximity to necrotic foci (presumably hypoxic regions) and the clustering of capillaries alongside VEGF-producing cells.
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PMID:Vascular endothelial growth factor induced by hypoxia may mediate hypoxia-initiated angiogenesis. 127 31

We have previously suggested that tumor angiogenesis in human gliomas is regulated by a paracrine mechanism involving vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and flt-1 (VEGF-receptor 1). VEGF, an endothelial-cell-specific mitogen, is abundantly expressed in glioma cells which reside along necrotic areas, whereas flt-1, a tyrosine-kinase receptor for VEGF, is expressed in tumor endothelial cells, but not in endothelial cells in normal adult brain. Recently, a second tyrosine-kinase receptor which binds VEGF with high affinity, designated KDR or flk-1, has been described. We performed in situ hybridization for VEGF mRNA, flt-1 mRNA and KDR mRNA on serial sections of normal brain, low-grade and high-grade glioma specimens. We show that KDR mRNA is co-expressed with flt-1 in vascular cells in glioblastoma but not in low-grade glioma. Since flt-1 and KDR are not expressed in endothelial cells in the normal adult brain, the coordinate up-regulation of 2 receptors for VEGF appears to be a critical event which controls tumor angiogenesis. Immunocytochemistry with a monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody revealed significant amounts of VEGF protein in the same glioma cells that expressed VEGF mRNA. The largest amount of VEGF immunoreactivity, however, was detected on the vasculature of glioblastomas, the site where VEGF exerts its biological functions. These findings suggest that VEGF is produced and secreted by glioma cells and acts on tumor endothelial cells which express VEGF receptors. To further characterize VEGF-producer cells in vivo, we investigated cellular proliferation, immunoreactivity to the p53 tumor-suppressor gene product and epidermal-growth-factor-receptor (EGFR) expression on serial sections by immunocytochemistry. VEGF-producer cells did not show increased cellular proliferation, p53 immunoreactivity or EGFR immunoreactivity as compared with glioma cells which did not express VEGF. Our studies therefore do not demonstrate evidence for a growth advantage of VEGF-producer cells in vivo or VEGF induction by p53 mutation or EGFR over-expression.
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PMID:Vascular endothelial growth factor and glioma angiogenesis: coordinate induction of VEGF receptors, distribution of VEGF protein and possible in vivo regulatory mechanisms. 752 92

The vascular system of the central nervous system is derived from capillary endothelial cells, which have invaded the early embryonic neuroectoderm. This process is called angiogenesis and is probably regulated by brain-derived factors. Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic growth factor whose expression correlates with embryonic brain angiogenesis, i.e. expression is high in the embryonic brain when angiogenesis occurs and low in the adult brain when angiogenesis is shut off under normal physiological conditions. VEGF is also a vascular permeability factor (VPF) and, therefore, its expression is also consistent with the formation of the blood-brain barrier by brain endothelial cells, i.e. capillaries are leaky in the embryonic brain but are tight in the postnatal and adult brain. Thus, VEGF/VPF may be a key factor regulating endothelial cell growth and permeability. This notion is further supported by the observation that VEGF expression is induced and strongly upregulated in human malignant glioblastoma. This tumor is characterized by vascular proliferations, vascular leakage and edema. The differentiation of blood-brain barrier endothelial cells is probably regulated by astrocytes which form foot processes apposed to the abluminal vascular basement membrane. Blood-brain barrier endothelial cells express a set of cell surface proteins that are absent from permeable capillaries. We have characterized one such novel transmembrane glycoprotein which is a new member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. This protein and the analysis of the in vitro characteristics of brain endothelial cells may help to define the molecular mechanisms that are involved in blood-brain barrier induction and permeability.
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PMID:Molecular biology of blood-brain barrier ontogenesis and function. 752 21

In primary malignant brain tumors increased vascularity and marked edema strongly suggest a possible role of the vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF). This was confirmed by earlier in situ hybridization studies, by analysis of the expression of the mitogen in different subsets of glioblastoma cells, and by the fact that the VEGF/VPF receptor flt-1 (fms-like tyrosine kinase) is up-regulated in tumor cells in vivo. To assess and quantify the expression of the VEGF/VPF gene and of the receptor gene, 26 surgical specimens of brain tumor tissue from 24 patients were analyzed. In most malignant gliomas, the expression level of the VEGF/VPF gene is elevated and can be increased up to 20- to 50-fold in comparison with low-grade tumors. Using polymerase chain reaction-based amplification, it could be shown that the messenger RNAs of three different VEGF/VPF forms are synthesized in tumor tissue samples. Northern blot studies revealed that in some samples a significant expression of the gene coding for placenta growth factor, a growth factor closely related to VEGF/VPF, was observed. In addition, using a radioreceptor assay it was possible to detect high VEGF/VPF-like activity in the cyst fluids of brain tumors, indicating the accumulation of the mitogen and permeability factor in brain tumor cysts. Further investigations revealed that astrocytoma and glioblastoma cells in culture express the VEGF/VPF gene and secrete the VEGF/VPF protein, whereas gene expression of the two known VEGF/VPF receptors, kinase insert domain-containing receptor and flt-1, could not be detected. These data support previous reports, which stated that VEGF/VPF acts as a paracrine growth and permeability factor in brain tumors and may contribute to tumor growth by initiating tumor angiogenesis.
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PMID:Detection and quantification of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor in brain tumor tissue and cyst fluid: the key to angiogenesis? 752 59

Coronary collateral vessels reduce the damage of ischemic myocardium after coronary obstruction. Recently, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to increase vascular permeability and enhance the endothelial cell growth, leading to neoangiogenesis. VEGF has been reported to be upregulated in some neoplasms with endothelial proliferation, such as glioblastoma and vascularised adenocarcinoma. However, the expression and role of VEGF in human heart and those in its diseased condition have not been investigated. To elucidate its pathophysiological role, we studied the transcription and distribution of VEGF mRNA in normal human and myocardial infarcted hearts. Samples were obtained from 15 autopsy cases with and without ischemic heart disease. VEGF mRNA transcription was examined by using RT-PCR and Southern blot analysis. In all cases VEGF mRNA was detected in atrias, ventricles and valves. The amounts of each VEGF subtypes in cardiomyocytes were different from those in valves. By in situ hybridization method, VEGF mRNA was found in cytoplasm of normal cardiomyocyte but not in the vessels. However, in the cases of acute myocardial infarction, VEGF mRNA was detected in vascular smooth muscle cells of arterioles around the coagulation necrosis of the infarction as well as in mononuclear cells which infiltrated in the granulation tissues. In contrast, VEGF mRNA signals in cardiomyocyte around the necrosis were as much as those in the normal cardiomyocyte in non-diseased areas. By immunohistochemical studies, the mononuclear cells were supposed to be macrophages. This study suggests that VEGF could play an important role in neovascularization in acute myocardial infarction, and suggests that VEGF may have some favorable effect on infarcted myocardium.
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PMID:[The expression and the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human normal and myocardial infarcted heart]. 795 3

Agents that modulate cellular iron availability have been studied for their antitumor activity. Based on encouraging in vitro studies, the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) has been used in clinical studies to treat cancer patients. The observation that DFO induced macular edema in several cancer patients led to the present investigation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a possible mediator of the encountered side effects. Both normal and malignant cell lines were incubated with DFO and a variety of other iron chelators. DFO, at concentrations achievable in humans, induced a 3-5-fold increase in VEGF mRNA expression in all cell lines studied. This increased VEGF mRNA expression was dose and time dependent. A panel of structurally different iron chelators induced an even more potent increase in VEGF mRNA expression. The DFO-induced increase in VEGF mRNA expression translated into 6- and 4-fold increases in VEGF protein secretion in conditioned media of retinal pigment epithelial and C6 glioblastoma cells, respectively. These findings suggest that VEGF may act as a mediator of the side effects induced by iron chelation therapy. In addition, because VEGF is an important regulator of angiogenesis, iron chelators should be given with caution to cancer patients.
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PMID:Up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor production by iron chelators. 870 19

The development of new capillary networks from the normal microvasculature of the host appears to be required for growth of solid tumors. Tumor cells influence this process by producing both inhibitors and positive effectors of angiogenesis. Among the latter, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has assumed prime candidacy as a major positive physiological effector. Here, we have directly tested this hypothesis in the brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme, one of the most highly vascularized human cancers. We introduced an antisense VEGF expression construct into glioblastoma cells and found that (i) VEGF mRNA and protein levels were markedly reduced, (ii) the modified cells did not secrete sufficient factors so as to be chemoattractive for primary human microvascular endothelial cells, (iii) the modified cells were not able to sustain tumor growth in immunodeficient animals, and (iv) the density of in vivo blood vessel formation was reduced in direct relation to the reduction of VEGF secretion and tumor formation. Moreover, revertant cells that recovered the ability to secrete VEGF regained each of these tumorigenic properties. These results suggest that VEGF plays a major angiogenic role in glioblastoma.
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PMID:Suppression of glioblastoma angiogenicity and tumorigenicity by inhibition of endogenous expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. 871 Aug 99

Elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are required for ocular and tumor angiogenesis in animal models. Ischemic hypoxia is strongly correlated with increased VEGF expression in these systems and is considered a physiologically relevant stimulus. Because ischemic hypoxia is often followed by reperfusion and reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI) generation, we examined the potential role of ROI in the control of VEGF gene expression. Human retinal pigment epithelial cells exposed to superoxide or hydrogen peroxide rapidly increased VEGF mRNA levels. Superoxide-associated mRNA increases were dose dependent, blocked by antioxidants, and associated with elevated VEGF protein levels in conditioned media. Increases in VEGF mRNA levels were also observed in cultured human melanoma and rat glioblastoma cells with superoxide or hydrogen peroxide. Cycloheximide prevented the ROI-associated increases in VEGF mRNA. Transcriptional inhibition with actinomycin D revealed an inducible increase in VEGF mRNA half-life, but nuclear run-on experiments showed no increase in VEGF transcriptional rate. Reoxygenation of human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro and ocular reperfusion in vivo increased retinal VEGF mRNA levels. Antioxidants prevented the reperfusion-associated VEGF mRNA increases in retina. We conclude that ROIs increase VEGF gene expression in vitro and during the reperfusion of ischemic retina in vivo. The ROI-associated increases are mediated largely through increases in VEGF mRNA stability.
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PMID:Reactive oxygen intermediates increase vascular endothelial growth factor expression in vitro and in vivo. 883 17

The hyperpermeability of tumor vessels to macromolecules, compared with normal vessels, is presumably due to vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF) released by neoplastic and/or host cells. In addition, VEGF/VPF is a potent angiogenic factor. Removal of this growth factor may reduce the permeability and inhibit tumor angiogenesis. To test these hypotheses, we transplanted a human glioblastoma (U87), a human colon adenocarcinoma (LS174T), and a human melanoma (P-MEL) into two locations in immunodeficient mice: the cranial window and the dorsal skinfold chamber. The mice bearing vascularized tumors were treated with a bolus (0.2 ml) of either a neutralizing antibody (A4.6.1) (492 micrograms/ml) against VEGF/VPF or PBS (control). We found that tumor vascular permeability to albumin in antibody-treated groups was lower than in the matched controls and that the effect of the antibody was time-dependent and influenced by the mode of injection. Tumor vascular permeability did not respond to i.p. injection of the antibody until 4 days posttreatment. However, the permeability was reduced within 6 h after i.v. injection of the same amount of antibody. In addition to the reduction in vascular permeability, the tumor vessels became smaller in diameter and less tortuous after antibody injections and eventually disappeared from the surface after four consecutive treatments in U87 tumors. These results demonstrate that tumor vascular permeability can be reduced by neutralization of endogenous VEGF/ VPF and suggest that angiogenesis and the maintenance of integrity of tumor vessels require the presence of VEGF/VPF in the tissue microenvironment. The latter finding reveals a new mechanism of tumor vessel regression-i.e., blocking the interactions between VEFG/VPF and endothelial cells or inhibiting VEGF/VPF synthesis in solid tumors causes dramatic reduction in vessel diameter, which may block the passage of blood elements and thus lead to vascular regression.
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PMID:Time-dependent vascular regression and permeability changes in established human tumor xenografts induced by an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor antibody. 896 29

We evaluated the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression in human A-172 glioblastoma cells and human HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The mRNA level of VEGF increased in response to S-Nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) in both cell lines, and increased in mRNA level well coincided with VEGF protein production in A-172 cells. SNAP at 0.5 mM induced maximal stimulation of 4.4 and 3.7 kb VEGF mRNA expression after 6 h about 11 and 8 fold increase, respectively above control level. Similar VEGF mRNA accumulation was observed also with NOR3, another chemical NO generator. To evaluate the effect of SNAP on VEGF mRNA stability, half-lives of VEGF mRNA were measured in A-172 cells cultured with or without 0.5 mM SNAP and treated with actinomycin D (25 microg/ml). Half-life for VEGF mRNA was found to be prolonged about 2.4 fold by SNAP. VEGF expression induced by SNAP was inhibited by guanylate cyclase inhibitors, methylene blue (10 microM) and LY-83583 (1 microM), and by the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (25 microg/ml). These results suggest that induction of VEGF gene expression by NO is mediated through guanylate cyclase activity and requires on-going protein synthesis.
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PMID:Induction of vascular endothelial growth factor by nitric oxide in human glioblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma cells. 924 80


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