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The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in skeletal muscle of patients with sleep disorders
Author(s) -
WåhlinLarsson Britta,
Ulfberg Jan,
Aulin Karin Piehl,
Kadi Fawzi
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.21357
Subject(s) - cd31 , skeletal muscle , vascular endothelial growth factor , angiogenesis , downregulation and upregulation , obstructive sleep apnea , endocrinology , hypoxia (environmental) , medicine , myogenesis , vascular endothelial growth factor a , pathology , biology , chemistry , vegf receptors , organic chemistry , oxygen , gene , biochemistry
An increased capillary network has been observed in skeletal muscle of patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). This finding could be due to upregulation of growth factors responsible for angiogenesis. The aim of the study was to examine the occurrence and localization of VEGF and capillary proliferation in skeletal muscle of RLS ( n = 12) and OSAS ( n = 12) patients and controls ( n = 11). Double‐immunofluorescence staining for capillaries (CD31) and VEGF, and proliferating cells (Ki‐67), was carried out on biopsies taken from the tibialis anterior. The percentage of capillaries expressing VEGF (CD31,VEGF + ) was significantly higher in OSAS and RLS patients compared with controls. The percentage of proliferating capillaries (CD31,Ki‐67 + ) was significantly higher in OSAS patients compared with controls. Our study shows the occurrence of proliferation of endothelial cells in skeletal muscle in RLS and OSAS, supporting an upregulation of VEGF located in capillaries, probably due to local hypoxia. Muscle Nerve, 2009