Titre | FRO: Role of VEGF-isoforms in pathological retinal & choroidal angiogenesis |
But | The aim of this project was to study the specific role of the VEGF isoforms in pathological angiogenesis, and to investigate the effect of blocking a single isoform on the formation of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). |
Méthodes | To study the in vivo role of the VEGF isoforms in pathological angiogenesis, VEGF isoform specific mice (VEGF 120/+, VEGF 164/164 and VEGF188/188 mice) were bred. After backcrossing these mice strains into a C75Bl/6 background CNV was induced by placing 3 green laser spots (100μm spot size, 0.05 sec spot duration and 400mW power) around the optic nerve. Quantification of the area of newly formed blood vessels was determined by retrobulbar dextran linked FITC-perfusion. |
Résultats | Preliminary results showed that the area of neovascularization in the VEGF 120/+ and VEGF 164/164 mice was comparable to the wild type mice, whereas an inhibition in neovascularization was present in the VEGF188/188 isoform specific mice. For the moment, mice colonies are being enlarged to repeat experiments and subsequently, these mice are intercrossed to obtain double transgenic mice. Furthermore, retinal angiogenesis will also be checked using the ROP model. |
Conclusion | VEGF164 and VEGF120 seems to play an important role in the process of pathological neovascularization, whereas VEGF188 not. These new insights in the role of different VEGF isoforms may improve the efficacy of the currently existing anti-VEGF therapy (that differ in their specificity for the different VEGF isoforms). This can open new perspectives for patients with vision threatening eye diseases and may have important therapeutic implications for them. |
Nom | VAN DE VEIRE |
Initiales | S |
Institut | KUL (Oogziekten) |
Ville | Leuven |
Nom | VAN BERGEN |
Initiales | T |
Institut | KUL (Oogziekten) |
Ville | Leuven |
Nom | MOONS |
Initiales | I |
Institut | KUL (Biologie) |
Ville | Leuven |
Nom | CARMELIET |
Initiales | P |
Institut | VRC-VIB |
Ville | Leuven |
Nom | STALMANS |
Initiales | I |
Institut | KUL (Oogziekten) |
Ville | Leuven |