Influence of pre-analytical variables on VEGF gene expression and circulating protein concentrations.

Background: The extended role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human pathophysiology led us to evaluate pre-analytical parameters possibly influencing its levels in peripheral blood and tissues. The effects on VEGF protein levels and mRNA expression were measured after storage delay (blood and tissue), use of different types of anticoagulants (blood), and after different numbers of freeze-thaw cycles (blood).

Methods: Blood from healthy donors was sampled simultaneously in ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), acid citrate dextrose (ACD-A), hirudin, and serum separation tubes.