Objective: To investigate the mechanism leading to capillary nonperfusion of the retina in a monkey model of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF)-induced retinopathy in which capillary closure occurs in a late stage after VEGF treatment.

Methods: Two monkeys received 4 intravitreous injections of 0.5 microg of VEGF in one eye and of phosphate-buffered saline in the other eye and were killed at day 9. After perfusion and enucleation, retinal samples were snap frozen for immunohistochemical analysis with the panendothelial cell marker CD31 or were fixed for morphometric analysis at the light and electron microscopic level.

Results: At the light microscopic level, all capillaries in the retina of VEGF-injected eyes displayed hypertrophic walls with narrow lumina. In a quantitative analysis of the deep capillary plexus in the inner nuclear layer, VEGF-injected eyes had a significant 5- to 7-fold decrease in total capillary luminal volume. CD31 staining showed that this decrease was not accompanied by a change in the number of capillaries. Electron microscopy revealed that the luminal volume of individual capillaries of the inner nuclear layer of VEGF-injected eyes was significantly decreased due to a 2-fold hypertrophy of the endothelial cells.

Conclusions: Luminal narrowing caused by endothelial cell hypertrophy occurs in the deep retinal capillary plexus in VEGF-induced retinopathy in monkeys. This suggests a causal role of endothelial cell hypertrophy in the pathogenesis of VEGF-induced retinal capillary closure. A similar mechanism may operate in retinal conditions in humans associated with ischemia and VEGF overexpression.

Clinical Relevance: Capillary nonperfusion occurs in diabetic retinopathy and other ischemic diseases associated with overexpression of VEGF. In addition, VEGF-induced endothelial cell hypertrophy may be causative for capillary closure in these diseases.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archopht.119.6.861DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

endothelial cell
16
cell hypertrophy
16
capillary nonperfusion
12
capillary closure
12
vegf-injected eyes
12
capillary
9
vascular endothelial
8
endothelial growth
8
growth factor
8
vegf-induced retinopathy
8

Similar Publications

l-Asparaginase (l-ASNase) catalyzes the hydrolysis of l-asparagine, leading to its depletion and subsequent effects on the cellular proliferation and survival. In contrast to normal cells, malignant cells that lack asparagine synthase are extremely susceptible to asparagine deficiency. l-ASNase has been successfully employed in treating pediatric leukemias and non-Hodgkin lymphomas; however, its usage in adult patients and other types of cancer is limited due to significant side effects and drug resistance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Our study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of the Kuntai capsule in improving ovarian function in rats with transplantation of cryopreserved ovary.

Methods: Two mice ovary cell lines were cultured with Kuntai capsule decoction, and cell apoptosis was detected by MTT assay. A total of 90 SPF Sprague Dawley rats were included in this study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Describe aims, methods, characteristics of donors, donor corneas and recipients, and potential impact of the Diabetes Endothelial Keratoplasty Study (DEKS).

Methods: The DEKS is a randomized, clinical trial to assess graft success and endothelial cell density (ECD) 1 year after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) using corneas from donors with versus without diabetes in a 1:2 minimization assignment. Diabetes severity in the donor is assessed by medical history, postmortem HbA1c, and donor skin advanced glycation end-products and oxidation markers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cd99l2 regulates excitatory synapse development and restrains immediate-early gene activation.

Cell Rep

January 2025

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Neuroscience Research Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Transplantation Research Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, South Korea. Electronic address:

Cd99 molecule-like 2 (Cd99l2) is a type I transmembrane protein that plays a role in the transmigration of leukocytes across vascular endothelial cells. Despite its high expression in the brain, the role of Cd99l2 remains elusive. We find that Cd99l2 is expressed primarily in neurons and positively regulates neurite outgrowth and the development of excitatory synapses.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The biology centered around the TGF-beta type I receptor Activin Receptor-Like Kinase (ALK)1 (encoded by ACVRL1) has been almost exclusively based on its reported endothelial expression pattern since its first functional characterization more than two decades ago. Here, in efforts to better define the therapeutic context in which to use ALK1 inhibitors, we uncover a population of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) that, by virtue of their unanticipated Acvrl1 expression, are effector targets for adjuvant anti-angiogenic immunotherapy in mouse models of metastatic breast cancer. The combinatorial benefit depended on ALK1-mediated modulation of the differentiation potential of bone marrow-derived granulocyte-macrophage progenitors, the release of CD14+ monocytes into circulation, and their eventual extravasation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!