J Korean Med Sci.  2004 Jun;19(3):359-363. 10.3346/jkms.2004.19.3.359.

Acute and Chronic Changes of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)in Induced Sputum of Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI)-induced Asthma Patients

• Choi JH
• Suh YJ
• Lee SK
• Suh CH
• Nahm DH
• Park HS

• KMID: 1786812
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2004.19.3.359

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multi-functional cytokine involved in inflammation, repair and angiogenesis in asthmatic airway. This study aimed to evaluate the role of VEGF in immediate bronchoconstriction induced by TDI inhalation, and in chronic TDI-asthma patients. 11 newly diagnosed TDI-asthma patients (group I), 12 chronic TDI-asthma patients with persistent asthma symptoms followed for >4 yr and 15 unexposed healthy controls were enrolled. In group I, induced sputum and serum were collected before and 7 hr after placebo- and TDI-bronchoprovocation test (BPT). In group II, induced sputum and serum were collected every 2 yr. VEGF levels were measured by ELISA. There were no significant differences in sputum and serum VEGF levels between patients and controls. Before and after placebo and TDI-BPT, no significant changes were noted in sputum and serum VEGF levels of group I. In group II patients, sputum VEGF showed variable changes at 1-yr, then decreased significantly at 2-yr (p<0.05), while serum VEGF showed variable changes at 2-yr, which decreased significantly at 4-yr (p<0.05). These results suggest that VEGF may play a minor role in immediate bronchoconstriction after TDI-BPT. In chronic TDI-asthma, VEGF may be involved to 2 yr after the diagnosis and the contribution may decrease after then.

Keyword

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate; Asthma, Exercise-Induced; Bronchoprovocation Test; Sputum

MeSH Terms

Adult
Asthma/*chemically induced/*metabolism
Bronchi/pathology
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Exercise
Human
Methacholine Chloride/pharmacology
Middle Aged
Placebos
Sputum/*metabolism
Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Time Factors
Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate/*pharmacology
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*biosynthesis/metabolism

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Changes of VEGF after TDI bronchoprovocation test in induced sputum (A) and serum (B) of TDI asthma patients. No significant changes are noted in both samples (p>0.05, respectively).

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  Fig. 2 Changes of sputum (A) and sera (B) VEGF levels in 12 TDI-induced asthma patients (group II). VEGF levels in induced sputum are presented as the ratio to protein concentation.

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