HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content

VEGF₁₂₁ is downregulated most in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) may benefit from future treatment to boost vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)₁₂₁ and thereby development of capillaries in the myocardium. A molecular study has shown for the first time that, of all three isomers of VEGF, VEGF₁₂₁ is downregulated the most in IDC.

VEGF₁₂₁ mRNA was expressed less than VEGF₁₈₉ and VEGF₁₆₅ isomers in ventricular endomyocardium from patients, whereas the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) housekeeping gene was expressed equally in patients and controls. The ratio of cDNA for VEGF to cDNA for GAPDH was significantly less in samples from patients than controls and least for VEGF₁₂₁ (40% v VEGF₁₆₅ 82% and VEGF₁₈₉ 83%). The mean protein ratio of VEGF to GAPDH for patients was significantly below that of the controls. The results were unaffected by the severity of disease.

The study was based on 28 patients with IDC and 10 brain dead controls without heart . . . [Full text of this article]