Determination of age-related changes in human vascular endothelial growth factor in the serum and urine of healthy subjects.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important regulator of endothelial cells and a key promoter of angiogenesis in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. A large number of studies dealing with body fluid measurement of VEGF for diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring have been reported. Neither the age-related profile of serum and urine VEGF levels nor the correlation between serum and urinary VEGF levels has been sufficiently investigated. In the present study, we determined the VEGF levels of the serum and urine of healthy Japanese subjects using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum VEGF level of children (0-14 years old) was significantly higher than that of adults (over 15 years old) (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the urine VEGF levels of children and adults. Thus, it is recommended that when the serum VEGF levels of patients are evaluated, they should be compared with those of age-matched controls. The VEGF level of the serum was not statistically correlated with that of the urine (p = 0.800). Fundamental VEGF values for body fluids of healthy subjects are necessary for the rigorous assessment of health and illness.