Vascular endothelial growth factor overexpression in induced sputum of children with bronchial asthma

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces angiogenesis and increases vascular permeability participating in narrowing of the airway lumen that follows lung injury. We sought to investigate the expression of VEGF in induced sputum during and after recovery from acute episodes of bronchial asthma in children. Eighteen asthmatic children with acute attacks of varying severity were subjected to VEGF estimation by an enzymatic immunoassay in induced sputum. They were followed up till complete remission of symptoms and signs and were then retested. VEGF was also estimated in sputum induced from age 34 and sex‐matched healthy children enrolled as a control group. The sputum VEGF levels during acute asthma [median = 71 ng/ml; mean (s.d.) = 114.6 (121.8) ng/ml] were significantly higher than the levels estimated during remission [median = 50 ng/ml; mean (s.d.) = 45.7 (24.2) ng/ml] and both were higher than the corresponding levels of the control group [median = 36 ng/ml; mean (s.d.) = 31.3 (17.2) ng/ml]. VEGF levels during asthmatic episodes correlated positively to the recovery levels (r = 0.6, p = 0.009). The patients’ VEGF expression did not vary with asthma severity, serum total IgE concentration, peripheral blood eosinophil count, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate of patients. Children on corticosteroids inhalation therapy at enrollment had sputum VEGF levels that were comparable to those on other therapies. The increased expression of sputum VEGF in asthmatic children reinforces the concept that it might have a pathogenetic role in bronchial asthma and may represent a biomarker of airway inflammation.

Airway epithelial cells from asthmatic children differentially express proremodeling factors

“…13,14 Data from animal models suggest that VEGF is an important mediator of angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and structural changes in the asthmatic airway. 15 VEGF and VEGF receptor are reported to be overexpressed in adult human asthmatic airways, 18 VEGF levels are increased in sputum from asthmatic children, 34 and VEGF expression is increased in lung tissue from adult asthmatic patients and correlated with disease severity. 11,18,19 Recently, Sharma et al 35 found that VEGF polymorphisms were associated with childhood asthma, lung function, and airway responsiveness.…”

Targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1) Signaling in Therapeutics: Implications for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…The induction of HIF-1-mediated angiogenesis, a prerequisite for tissue remodelling, has also been observed in allergic asthma. Increased levels of VEGF have been measured in the bronchiolar lavage of patients with asthma as compared to healthy individuals [134][135][136][137]. Furthermore, biopsies from asthmatic patients displayed significant levels of HIF-1 immunoreactivity [136].…”

VEGFA variants are associated with pre-school lung function, but not neonatal lung function

“…Few studies have investigated the role of VEGFA gene variants and VEGF levels in the inception of childhood asthma: common variants in the VEGFA gene have been suggested to be of importance for the development of asthma and increased airway hyperresponsiveness ; VEGF levels in sputum and plasma have been associated with the burden of asthma symptoms , and VEGF serum levels in children are associated with severity of bronchial hyperresponsiveness , but not conclusive or consistent . A recent study by Simpson et al.…”