Sandhofer A, Tatarczyk T, Kirchmair R, Iglseder B, Paulweber B, Patsch J R, Schratzberger P
Department of Internal Medicine I, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, Innsbruck, Austria.
Atherosclerosis. 2009 Sep;206(1):265-9. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2009.01.031. Epub 2009 Feb 3.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent hypoxia-regulated angiogenic factor. Its soluble receptor soluble (s)Flt-1 binds VEGF with high affinity inhibiting the angiogenic function of VEGF. The role of circulating VEGF in atherosclerosis is unclear.
In 909 healthy subjects (511 male, 398 female) from the Salzburg Atherosclerosis Prevention Program in Subjects at High Individual Risk (SAPHIR) we determined fasting plasma VEGF and sFlt-1 concentration, cardiovascular risk factors and carotid atherosclerosis. VEGF levels were lower and sFlt-1 levels higher in men than in women. VEGF and sFlt-1 showed a positive correlation. In the entire population VEGF correlated positively with age, BMI, insulin resistance, white blood cell and platelet count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and carotid intima media thickness (IMT). After adjustment for age, VEGF showed a weak positive correlation with BMI, liver enzymes, CRP and platelet count in males. In females VEGF correlated negatively with LDL-cholesterol and positively with insulin resistance and platelet count. After adjustment for age, no significant correlation with carotid atherosclerosis could be detected.
Plasma VEGF and sFlt-1 are only weakly correlated with cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting that circulating VEGF levels do have only a minor impact on the development of atherosclerosis.
血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）是一种强效的缺氧调节血管生成因子。其可溶性受体可溶性（s）Flt-1与VEGF具有高亲和力结合，抑制VEGF的血管生成功能。循环VEGF在动脉粥样硬化中的作用尚不清楚。
在来自萨尔茨堡高危个体动脉粥样硬化预防项目（SAPHIR）的909名健康受试者（511名男性，398名女性）中，我们测定了空腹血浆VEGF和sFlt-1浓度、心血管危险因素和颈动脉粥样硬化情况。男性的VEGF水平低于女性，sFlt-1水平高于女性。VEGF和sFlt-1呈正相关。在整个人群中，VEGF与年龄、体重指数、胰岛素抵抗、白细胞和血小板计数、C反应蛋白（CRP）以及颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT）呈正相关。在调整年龄后，男性中VEGF与体重指数、肝酶、CRP和血小板计数呈弱正相关。在女性中，VEGF与低密度脂蛋白胆固醇呈负相关，与胰岛素抵抗和血小板计数呈正相关。调整年龄后，未检测到与颈动脉粥样硬化有显著相关性。
血浆VEGF和sFlt-1与心血管危险因素仅呈弱相关，提示循环VEGF水平对动脉粥样硬化的发展影响较小。
