BACKGROUND: Von Hippel Lindau disease (VHL) is a rare autosomal dominant inherited disorder characterized by highly vascularized tumors in various organs. The abundant presence of endothelial cells in VHL tumors strongly suggest a role of the VHL tumor suppressor gene in the regulation of angiogenesis. Recently, in vitro studies have shown that the VHL tumor suppressor gene regulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We investigated whether VHL patiens have increased levels of VEGF in their body fluids. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The concentration of VEGF was measured in fluid of the anterior chamber of the eye, serum, urine, and fluid from renal cysts of VHL patients and unaffected individuals by ELISA. In addition, levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured in urine and serum of VHL patients and control subjects. RESULTS: In 80% of the VHL patients VEGF was detectable in aqueous fluid of the anterior chamber of their eyes. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.90) was found between the age of VHL patients and ocular VEGF concentrations. At comparable age, VEGF levels in ocular fluid of VHL patients were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in unaffected subjects. No correlation was found between VEGF concentration and the presence of retinal angiomas. A 10 and 16 fold increase of VEGF concentration was seen in fluid from two independent VHL-related cysts as compared with VEGF serum levels of the same patient. The mean concentration of VEGF in serum of VHL patients (n = 15) (319 +/- 84 pg/ml) was higher than in matched controls (238 +/- 68 pg/ml; P = NS). The mean concentration of VEGF in urine of VHL patients (128 +/- 36 pg/ml) was lower than in matched controls (183 +/- 25 pg/ml; P = NS). Concentrations of VEGF did not correlate with the presence of VHL-related tumors. No differences were observed between concentrations of bFGF, IL-8 and ET-1 in serum and urine of VHL patients and matched controls. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support a role for the VHL tumor suppressor gene in the in vivo regulation of VEGF.
BACKGROUND:Von Hippel Lindau disease (VHL) is a rare autosomal dominant inherited disorder characterized by highly vascularized tumors in various organs. The abundant presence of endothelial cells in VHL tumors strongly suggest a role of the VHL tumor suppressor gene in the regulation of angiogenesis. Recently, in vitro studies have shown that the VHL tumor suppressor gene regulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We investigated whether VHL patiens have increased levels of VEGF in their body fluids. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The concentration of VEGF was measured in fluid of the anterior chamber of the eye, serum, urine, and fluid from renal cysts of VHLpatients and unaffected individuals by ELISA. In addition, levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured in urine and serum of VHLpatients and control subjects. RESULTS: In 80% of the VHLpatientsVEGF was detectable in aqueous fluid of the anterior chamber of their eyes. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.90) was found between the age of VHLpatients and ocular VEGF concentrations. At comparable age, VEGF levels in ocular fluid of VHLpatients were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in unaffected subjects. No correlation was found between VEGF concentration and the presence of retinal angiomas. A 10 and 16 fold increase of VEGF concentration was seen in fluid from two independent VHL-related cysts as compared with VEGF serum levels of the same patient. The mean concentration of VEGF in serum of VHLpatients (n = 15) (319 +/- 84 pg/ml) was higher than in matched controls (238 +/- 68 pg/ml; P = NS). The mean concentration of VEGF in urine of VHLpatients (128 +/- 36 pg/ml) was lower than in matched controls (183 +/- 25 pg/ml; P = NS). Concentrations of VEGF did not correlate with the presence of VHL-related tumors. No differences were observed between concentrations of bFGF, IL-8 and ET-1 in serum and urine of VHLpatients and matched controls. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support a role for the VHL tumor suppressor gene in the in vivo regulation of VEGF.
Authors: Vincenzo Russo; Andrea Stella; Antonio Barone; Ingrid U Scott; Nicola Delle Noci Journal: Int Ophthalmol Date: 2012-01-22 Impact factor: 2.031
Authors: Rene' G Feichtinger; Franz Zimmermann; Johannes A Mayr; Daniel Neureiter; Cornelia Hauser-Kronberger; Freimut H Schilling; Neil Jones; Wolfgang Sperl; Barbara Kofler Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2010-04-19 Impact factor: 4.430
Authors: Jared E Knickelbein; Naima Jacobs-El; Wai T Wong; Henry E Wiley; Catherine A Cukras; Catherine B Meyerle; Emily Y Chew Journal: Ophthalmol Retina Date: 2017 May-Jun