Abstract
Background: Liver regeneration requires the formation of new blood vessels. Endothelial cell proliferation is stimulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor tyrosine kinase VEGFR-2. The aim of this study was to investigate VEGFR-2 expression in vivo during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PHx). Methods: Transgenic VEGFR-2-luc mice were used in which the luciferase reporter gene was under control of the VEGFR-2 promoter. Following 2/3 PHx, the mice underwent in vivo bioluminescence imaging until the 14th postoperative day. Additionally, liver tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, in vitro luminescence assays, and quantitative RT-PCR. Results: In vivo bioluminescence imaging showed a significant increase in VEGFR-2 promoter activity after PHx. Maximum signal was recorded on the 3rd day; 8 days postoperatively the signal intensity decreased significantly. On the 14th day, bioluminescence signal reached almost baseline levels. Immunohistochemistry, quantitative RT-PCR, and in vitro luminescence confirmed a significant increase on the 3rd day following resection. The mRNA expression of VEGFR-2 was significantly higher on day 3 than pre-operatively as well as on day 8. Conclusion: In vivo bioluminescence imaging with transgenic VEGFR-2-luc mice is feasible and provides a convenient model for non-invasively studying VEGFR-2 expression during liver regeneration. This may facilitate further experiments with modulation of angiogenesis by different substances. (C) 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 330-340 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | European Surgical Research |
Volume | 58 |
Issue number | 5-6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Keywords
- Angiogenesis
- Bioluminescence
- Partial hepatectomy
- Liver regeneration
- Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2
- Vascular endothelial growth factor
- ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR
- IN-VIVO
- TRANSGENIC MICE
- RAT-LIVER
- ANGIOGENESIS
- REVASCULARIZATION
- RECEPTORS