This Article Abstract Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (34) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sasso, F. C. Articles by Salvatore, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sasso, F. C. Articles by Salvatore, T.

Increased Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression But Impaired Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Signaling in the Myocardium of Type 2 Diabetic Patients With Chronic Coronary Heart Disease

Ferdinando Carlo Sasso, MD, PhD^_*,,_*, Daniele Torella, MD^,, Ornella Carbonara, MD^_*,, Georgina M. Ellison, PhD^||, Michele Torella, MD^,, Michelangelo Scardone, MD^,, Claudio Marra, MD^,, Rodolfo Nasti, MD^_*,, Raffaele Marfella, MD, PhD^_*,, Domenico Cozzolino, MD^_*,, Ciro Indolfi, MD^,, Maurizio Cotrufo, MD^,, Roberto Torella, MD^_*, and Teresa Salvatore, MD^_*,

^_* Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Disease, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
Excellence Centre for Cardiovascular Disease, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
Division of Cardiology, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
^|| The Research Institute for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom

View larger version (25K): [in a new window]   Figure 1 (A) Representative Western blot showing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptors fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (flt-1) and fetal liver kinase 1 (flk-1) protein expression in the myocardial samples from control human hearts, non-diabetic and diabetic patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). 1 to 3 = control specimens; 4 to 6 = non-diabetic patients with chronic CHD; 7 to 9 = diabetic patients with chronic CHD. (B) Optical density (O.D.) of VEGF, flt-1, and flk-1. *Statistical difference from control specimens; **statistical difference from non-diabetic patients.

View larger version (36K): [in a new window]   Figure 2 (A) Representative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showing VEGF165 and VEGF receptors (flt-1 and flk-1) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels in the myocardial samples from control human hearts, non-diabetic and diabetic patients with CHD. 1 to 3 = control specimens; 4 to 6 = non-diabetic patients with chronic CHD; 7 to 9 = diabetic patients with chronic CHD. (B) Real-time RT-PCR quantification of myocardial VEGF, flt-1 and flk-1 mRNA. Data are the ratio values of VEGF/B-Actin, Flt-1/B-Actin, and Flk-1/B-Actin mRNA (arbitrary units). *Statistical difference from control specimens; **statistical difference from non-diabetic patients. bp = base pair; other abbreviations as in Figure 1.

View larger version (27K): [in a new window]   Figure 3 (A) Representative Western blot showing phospho-flk-1 and Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein expression and their phosphorylation forms in the myocardial samples from the three groups included in the study. 1 to 3 = control specimens; 4 to 6 = non-diabetic patients with chronic CHD; 7 to 9 = diabetic patients with chronic CHD. (B) Optical density (O.D.) of phospho-flk-1, phospho-Akt, total and phospho-eNOS, and phospho-eNOS/total eNOS ratio. *Statistical difference from control specimens; **statistical difference from non-diabetic patients. Other abbreviations as in Figure 1.