Hypoxia and endothelin-1 induce VEGF production in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Life Sci. 1998;63(6):477-84. doi: 10.1016/s0024-3205(98)00296-3.

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF) is a secreted mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, and it promotes vascular permeability and neovascularization in vivo. We investigated the mechanisms by which low oxygen tension modulates the expression of VEGF in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (h-SMC) in vitro. Moreover, we measured VEGF levels in the cultured medium with or without endothelin-1 (ET-1) using a newly developed, highly sensitive, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hypoxia resulted in a substantial induction of VEGF transcripts at 3 and 24 hr. VEGF levels were significantly higher when h-SMC were cultured in medium containing ET-1 than when cultured in medium without ET-1. In conclusion, hypoxia and ET-1 constitute potent stimuli for VEGF production in h-SMC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Hypoxia
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cobalt / pharmacology
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / genetics
  • Endothelin-1 / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Genistein / pharmacology
  • Growth Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Lymphokines / biosynthesis*
  • Lymphokines / genetics
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / pharmacology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Substances

  • Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Endothelin-1
  • Growth Inhibitors
  • Lymphokines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Cobalt
  • Genistein
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate