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Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors 1 and 2 gene expression is up‐regulated in the cervix of pregnant mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
Author(s) -
Thompson Morgan Paige,
Mowa Chishimba Nathan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.767.7
Subject(s) - vascular endothelial growth factor , receptor , cervix , inflammation , lipopolysaccharide , endocrinology , medicine , kinase insert domain receptor , neuropilin 1 , vegf receptors , vascular endothelial growth factor a , cancer
Cervical remodeling entails a physiological inflammatory response, which can be induced by inflammatory agents, such as lipoplysaccharide (LPS), and inflammation is closely associated with vascular remodeling. We have previously characterized trends in levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and some of its signaling molecules during cervical remodeling, and administration of LPS to pregnant mice has been shown to enhance VEGF synthesis in the cervix. Here, we investigate whether LPS‐induced inflammatory effects on VEGF also regulate levels of its receptors, KDR and Flt‐1, in a dose‐dependent and time‐dependent manner. LPS dissolved in normal saline was administered intra‐cervically to three groups of mice at day 12 of pregnancy; control, a 250ng dose, and a 300ng dose. The cervix was harvested 6 hours later and levels of VEGF receptor levels were analyzed by real‐time PCR. Also, LPS was administered intra‐vaginally to three groups of mice at day 12 of pregnancy and the cervix was harvested for control, 3 and 5 hours later, and analyzed by real‐time PCR. Dose and time‐dependent data reveals that the gene expressions for both VEGF receptors are up‐regulated by LPS. We conclude that LPS‐induced inflammation may be mediated, among other pathways, through VEGF‐VEGF receptor pathways.