Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-B-deficient Mice Display an Atrial Conduction Defect

Overview

Journal Circulation

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2001 Jul 18

PMID 11457758

Citations 58

Authors

K Aase

G von Euler

X Li

A Ponten

P Thoren

R Cao

Y Cao

B Olofsson

S Gebre-Medhin

M Pekny

K Alitalo

C Betsholtz

U Eriksson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors are essential regulators of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in both embryos and adults. One of the factors with a still unknown physiological function is VEGF-B, which is expressed in many tissues, including the heart.

Methods And Results: Mice carrying a targeted deletion in the VEGF-B gene were developed. In VEGF-B(-/-) animals, no gross abnormalities were observed in organs that normally show high expression of VEGF-B, such as the heart, muscle, and kidney. Analysis of heart function by ECG showed that adult VEGF-B(-/-) mice have an atrial conduction abnormality characterized by a prolonged PQ interval. VEGF- or basic fibroblast growth factor-induced corneal angiogenesis was similar in normal and VEGF-B(-/-) mice.

Conclusions: VEGF-B seems to be required for normal heart function in adult animals but is not required for proper development of the cardiovascular system either during development or for angiogenesis in adults.

Citing Articles

Beyond vessels: unraveling the impact of VEGFs on neuronal functions and structure.

Aksan B, Mauceri D J Biomed Sci. 2025; 32(1):33.

PMID: 40050849 PMC: 11884128. DOI: 10.1186/s12929-025-01128-8.

Thrombolysis exacerbates cerebrovascular injury after ischemic stroke via a VEGF-B dependent effect on adipose lipolysis.

Nilsson I, Su E, Fredriksson L, Sahlgren B, Bagoly Z, Moessinger C bioRxiv. 2024; .

PMID: 39416206 PMC: 11483068. DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.11.617532.

Microvascular destabilization and intricated network of the cytokines in diabetic retinopathy: from the perspective of cellular and molecular components.

Sheng X, Zhang C, Zhao J, Xu J, Zhang P, Ding Q Cell Biosci. 2024; 14(1):85.

PMID: 38937783 PMC: 11212265. DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01269-7.

Expansion and collapse of VEGF diversity in major clades of the animal kingdom.

Rauniyar K, Bokharaie H, Jeltsch M Angiogenesis. 2023; 26(3):437-461.

PMID: 37017884 PMC: 10328876. DOI: 10.1007/s10456-023-09874-9.

VEGF-B hypertrophy predisposes to transition from diastolic to systolic heart failure in hypertensive rats.

Samuelsson A, Bartolomaeus T, Anandakumar H, Thowsen I, Nikpey E, Han J Cardiovasc Res. 2023; 119(7):1553-1567.

PMID: 36951047 PMC: 10318391. DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad040.