BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors are essential regulators of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in both embryos and adults. One of the factors with a still unknown physiological function is VEGF-B, which is expressed in many tissues, including the heart. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice carrying a targeted deletion in the VEGF-B gene were developed. In VEGF-B(-/-) animals, no gross abnormalities were observed in organs that normally show high expression of VEGF-B, such as the heart, muscle, and kidney. Analysis of heart function by ECG showed that adult VEGF-B(-/-) mice have an atrial conduction abnormality characterized by a prolonged PQ interval. VEGF- or basic fibroblast growth factor-induced corneal angiogenesis was similar in normal and VEGF-B(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF-B seems to be required for normal heart function in adult animals but is not required for proper development of the cardiovascular system either during development or for angiogenesis in adults.
BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors are essential regulators of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in both embryos and adults. One of the factors with a still unknown physiological function is VEGF-B, which is expressed in many tissues, including the heart. METHODS AND RESULTS:Mice carrying a targeted deletion in the VEGF-B gene were developed. In VEGF-B(-/-) animals, no gross abnormalities were observed in organs that normally show high expression of VEGF-B, such as the heart, muscle, and kidney. Analysis of heart function by ECG showed that adult VEGF-B(-/-) mice have an atrial conduction abnormality characterized by a prolonged PQ interval. VEGF- or basic fibroblast growth factor-induced corneal angiogenesis was similar in normal and VEGF-B(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS:VEGF-B seems to be required for normal heart function in adult animals but is not required for proper development of the cardiovascular system either during development or for angiogenesis in adults.
Authors: Fan Zhang; Zhongshu Tang; Xu Hou; Johan Lennartsson; Yang Li; Alexander W Koch; Pierre Scotney; Chunsik Lee; Pachiappan Arjunan; Lijin Dong; Anil Kumar; Tuomas T Rissanen; Bin Wang; Nobuo Nagai; Pierre Fons; Robert Fariss; Yongqing Zhang; Eric Wawrousek; Ginger Tansey; James Raber; Guo-Hua Fong; Hao Ding; David A Greenberg; Kevin G Becker; Jean-Marc Herbert; Andrew Nash; Seppo Yla-Herttuala; Yihai Cao; Ryan J Watts; Xuri Li Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2009-04-06 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Johanna Lähteenvuo; Olli-Pekka Hätinen; Antti Kuivanen; Jenni Huusko; Jussi Paananen; Markku Lähteenvuo; Jussi Nurro; Marja Hedman; Juha Hartikainen; Nihay Laham-Karam; Petri Mäkinen; Markus Räsänen; Kari Alitalo; Anthony Rosenzweig; Seppo Ylä-Herttuala Journal: Mol Ther Date: 2020-03-19 Impact factor: 11.454
Authors: Imke Albrecht; Lucie Kopfstein; Karin Strittmatter; Tibor Schomber; Annelie Falkevall; Carolina E Hagberg; Pascal Lorentz; Michael Jeltsch; Kari Alitalo; Ulf Eriksson; Gerhard Christofori; Kristian Pietras Journal: PLoS One Date: 2010-11-24 Impact factor: 3.240