Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 7, No. 1, 57-63,
January 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Embryology |
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA splice variants are differentially expressed in human blastocysts*
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich-Heine-University Medical Center, Moorenstraße 5, D-40225, Düsseldorf, Germany, and 2 Department of GYN/OB, Reproductive Immunology Laboratory, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
Abstract
The aim of our study was to detect and characterize mRNA expression of VEGF isoforms VEGF121, VEGF145, VEGF165, VEGF189, and VEGF206 in human blastocysts. We recently demonstrated VEGF mRNA expression during human preimplantation embryo development, and further information regarding the alternatively spliced mRNAs resulting in freely secreted proteins or proteins bound to cell surface heparan–sulphate proteoglycans is needed to better understand the process of angiogenesis during implantation. Human blastocysts unsuitable for transfer obtained from the IVF programme at Stanford University were examined by reverse transcription/hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction for their expression of VEGF mRNA splice variants. VEGF mRNA was expressed in 17 out of 19 (89%) blastocysts. Of the 17 blastocysts, VEGF121 mRNA was detected in 88%, VEGF145 mRNA in 100%, VEGF165 mRNA in 71%, and VEGF189 mRNA in 24% of blastocysts. There was co-expression of mRNA for VEGF121 and VEGF145 only in 29% blastocysts, of mRNA for VEGF165 and VEGF145 only in 12%, and of mRNA for VEGF121, VEGF145 and VEGF165 in 59% blastocysts. VEGF206 mRNA could not be detected. In conclusion, we demonstrated that blastocysts express the mRNAs encoding for the free VEGF proteins, enabling the implanting embryo to immediately induce angiogenesis at the implantation site.
angiogenesis/cytokines/gene expression/growth factors/implantation
Notes
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: kruessel{at}uni-duesseldorf.de
* Presented in part at the 16th annual meeting of ESHRE, Bologna, Italy, June 25–28, 2000.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  C. Bourcier, A. Jacquel, J. Hess, I. Peyrottes, P. Angel, P. Hofman, P. Auberger, J. Pouyssegur, and G. Pages p44 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1)-Dependent Signaling Contributes to Epithelial Skin Carcinogenesis. Cancer Res., March 1, 2006; 66(5): 2700 - 2707. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Tesone, R. L. Stouffer, S. M. Borman, J. D. Hennebold, and T. A. Molskness Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Production by the Monkey Corpus Luteum During the Menstrual Cycle: Isoform-Selective Messenger RNA Expression In Vivo and Hypoxia-Regulated Protein Secretion In Vitro Biol Reprod, November 1, 2005; 73(5): 927 - 934. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Brusselmans, F. Bono, D. Collen, J.-M. Herbert, P. Carmeliet, and M. Dewerchin A Novel Role for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor as an Autocrine Survival Factor for Embryonic Stem Cells during Hypoxia J. Biol. Chem., February 4, 2005; 280(5): 3493 - 3499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A.J. Harvey, K.L. Kind, M. Pantaleon, D.T. Armstrong, and J.G. Thompson Oxygen-Regulated Gene Expression in Bovine Blastocysts Biol Reprod, October 1, 2004; 71(4): 1108 - 1119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Kisliouk, N. Levy, A. Hurwitz, and R. Meidan Presence and Regulation of Endocrine Gland Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/Prokineticin-1 and Its Receptors in Ovarian Cells J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2003; 88(8): 3700 - 3707. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Stimpfl, D. Tong, B. Fasching, E. Schuster, A. Obermair, S. Leodolter, and R. Zeillinger Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Splice Variants and Their Prognostic Value in Breast and Ovarian Cancer Clin. Cancer Res., July 1, 2002; 8(7): 2253 - 2259. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Wang, Y. Wen, S. Mooney, B. Behr, and M. L. Polan Phospholipase A2 and Cyclooxygenase Gene Expression in Human Preimplantation Embryos J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2002; 87(6): 2629 - 2634. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R.M. Sibug, F.M. Helmerhorst, A.M.I. Tijssen, E.R. de Kloet, and J. de Koning Gonadotrophin stimulation reduces VEGF120 expression in the mouse uterus during the peri-implantation period Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2002; 17(6): 1643 - 1648. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D.J. Bloor, A.D. Metcalfe, A. Rutherford, D.R. Brison, and S.J. Kimber Expression of cell adhesion molecules during human preimplantation embryo development Mol. Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2002; 8(3): 237 - 245. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|