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An engineered vascular endothelial growth factor-activating transcription factor induces therapeutic angiogenesis in ApoE knockout mice with hindlimb ischemia.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Xie, D; Li, Y; Reed, EA; Odronic, SI; Kontos, CD; Annex, BH
Published in: J Vasc Surg
July 2006

OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is the growth and proliferation of blood vessels from existing vascular structures, and therapeutic angiogenesis seeks to promote blood vessel growth to improve tissue perfusion. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a prototypic angiogenic agent that exists in vivo in multiple isoforms, and studies with VEGF to date had used single isoform therapy with disappointing results. We tested plasmid and adenoviral vectors encoding a zinc-finger DNA-binding transcription factor (ZFP-32E) that was designed to increase the expression of all major VEGF isoforms in a preclinical model of peripheral arterial obstructive disease (PAOD) in hypercholesterolemic (ApoE knock-out) mice. METHODS: Unilateral femoral artery ligation/excision was performed in 117 mice. At 7 days postoperatively, the ischemic tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (GAS) muscles received either ZFP-32E treatment (125 microg of plasmid, 2.5 x 10(11) viral particle units [vpu] of adenovirus; some mice received a second plasmid injection 3 days later) or no-ZFP treatment (125 microg of beta-galactosidase [beta-gal], a plasmid-lacking insert, or an equal dose of adenoviral encoding beta-gal; some mice received a second plasmid injection 3 days later). Group 1 mice (n = 31) were euthanized 3 days later, and VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels were measured. Group 2 mice (n = 38) were euthanized 7 days later, and measures of capillary density, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were quantified. Group 3 mice (n = 48) were euthanized 28 days later, and changes in lower limb blood flow perfusion were measured. RESULTS: In group 1, VEGF mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in those with ZFP-32E treatment vs beta-gal. In group 2, capillary density and proliferating cells were significantly greater and apoptosis was significantly lower in those with ZFP-32E treatment vs beta-gal. Finally, in group 3, changes in the perfusion ratio (ischemic/nonischemic limb) at 21 days after injection were significantly greater in those with ZFP-32E treatment vs no-ZFP treatment. CONCLUSION: The ability of this engineered zinc-finger VEGF-activating transcription factor to induce therapeutic angiogenesis in hypercholesterolemic mice suggests this approach warrants investigation as a novel approach to treat PAOD.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Vasc Surg

DOI

ISSN

0741-5214

Publication Date

July 2006

Volume

44

Issue

1

Start / End Page

166 / 175

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Zinc Fingers
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Transcription Factors
  • Protein Engineering
  • Plasmids
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice
  • Ischemia
 

Citation

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Xie, D., Li, Y., Reed, E. A., Odronic, S. I., Kontos, C. D., & Annex, B. H. (2006). An engineered vascular endothelial growth factor-activating transcription factor induces therapeutic angiogenesis in ApoE knockout mice with hindlimb ischemia. J Vasc Surg, 44(1), 166–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2006.03.024
Xie, Donghua, Yongjun Li, Erika A. Reed, Shelley I. Odronic, Christopher D. Kontos, and Brian H. Annex. “An engineered vascular endothelial growth factor-activating transcription factor induces therapeutic angiogenesis in ApoE knockout mice with hindlimb ischemia.J Vasc Surg 44, no. 1 (July 2006): 166–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2006.03.024.
Xie, Donghua, et al. “An engineered vascular endothelial growth factor-activating transcription factor induces therapeutic angiogenesis in ApoE knockout mice with hindlimb ischemia.J Vasc Surg, vol. 44, no. 1, July 2006, pp. 166–75. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2006.03.024.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Vasc Surg

DOI

ISSN

0741-5214

Publication Date

July 2006

Volume

44

Issue

1

Start / End Page

166 / 175

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Zinc Fingers
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Transcription Factors
  • Protein Engineering
  • Plasmids
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice
  • Ischemia