J Gastric Cancer.  2014 Sep;14(3):196-203. 10.5230/jgc.2014.14.3.196.

Expression Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors A and C in Patients with Peptic Ulcers and Gastric Cancer

• Taghizadeh S
• Sankian M
• Ajami A
• Tehrani M
• Hafezi N
• Mohammadian R
• Farazmandfar T
• Hosseini V
• Abbasi A
• Ajami M

• KMID: 2372531
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5230/jgc.2014.14.3.196

Abstract

PURPOSE
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important growth factors for metastatic tumors. To clarify the role of VEGF-A and C in patients with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) or gastric cancer (GC), we evaluated the expression levels of these two molecules. We also analyzed the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on VEGF-A and C expression levels.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients with dyspepsia who needed diagnostic endoscopy were selected and divided into three groups: non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD), PUD, and GC, according to their endoscopic and histopathological results. Fifty-two patients with NUD, 50 with PUD, and 38 with GC were enrolled in this study. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by the rapid urease test. After RNA extraction and synthesis of cDNA, the expression levels of VEGF-A and C were determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS
The VEGF-C expression level in the PUD and GC groups was significantly higher than that in the NUD group. Moreover, the VEGF-A expression level in the PUD and GC groups was higher than in the NUD group, although the differences were not statistically significant. Significant positive correlations were also observed between the expression levels of these two molecules in the PUD and GC groups. In addition, the expression levels of these two molecules were higher in H. pylori positive patients with PUD or GC than in H. pylori negative patients of the same groups; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance.
CONCLUSIONS
Up-regulation of VEGF-C expression during gastric mucosal inflammation may play a role in the development of peptic ulcers or GC.

Keyword

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A; Vascular endothelial growth factor-C; Stomach neoplasms; Peptic ulcer; Helicobacter pylori

MeSH Terms

DNA, Complementary
Dyspepsia
Endoscopy
Helicobacter pylori
Humans
Inflammation
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Peptic Ulcer*
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA
Stomach Neoplasms*
Up-Regulation
Urease
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors*
DNA, Complementary
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
RNA
Urease
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Relative gene expression levels (2-ΔΔCt) of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in patients with NUD, PUD, and GC. *Denotes significant differences between groups. VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor; NUD = non-ulcer dyspepsia; PUD = peptic ulcer disease; GC = gastric cancer.

• 

  Fig. 2 Relative gene expression levels VEGF-A and VEGF-C in Helicobacter pylori+ patients compared to H. pylori- patients with PUD, GC, and NUD. No significant differences were observed between H. pylori+ and H. pylori- patients with PUD, GC and NUD. VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor; NUD = non-ulcer dyspepsia; PUD = peptic ulcer disease; GC = gastric cancer.

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