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. 2005 Mar 14;11(10):1535-9.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i10.1535.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor overexpression in ischemic colitis

Tomoyuki Okuda  1 , Takeshi Azuma, Masahiro Ohtani, Ryuho Masaki, Yoshiyuki Ito, Yukinao Yamazaki, Shigeji Ito, Masaru Kuriyama
Affiliations

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor overexpression in ischemic colitis

Tomoyuki Okuda et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: To examine the etiology and pathophysiology in human ischemic colitis from the viewpoint of ischemic factors such as hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Methods: Thirteen patients with ischemic colitis and 21 normal controls underwent colonoscopy. The follow-up colonoscopy was performed in 8 patients at 7 to 10 d after the occurrence of ischemic colitis. Biopsy samples were subjected to real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF.

Results: HIF-1 alpha and VEGF expression were found in the normal colon tissues by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. HIF-1 alpha and VEGF were overexpressed in the lesions of ischemic colitis. Overexpressed HIF-1 alpha and VEGF RNA quickly decreased to the normal level in the scar regions at 7 to 10 d after the occurrence of ischemic colitis.

Conclusion: Constant expression of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF in normal human colon tissue suggested that HIF-1 alpha and VEGF play an important role in maintaining tissue integrity. We confirmed the ischemic crisis in ischemic colitis at the molecular level, demonstrating overexpression of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF in ischemic lesions. These ischemic factors may play an important role in the pathophysiology of ischemic colitis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
RT-PCR analysis of HIF-1 alpha (lane 1: negative control; lane 2: rectal mucosa) and VEGF (lane 3: negative control; lane 4: rectal mucosa).
Figure 2
Figure 2
HIF-1 alpha RNA expression levels in the colon tissues.
Figure 3
Figure 3
VEGF RNA expression levels in the colon tissues.
Figure 4
Figure 4
HIF-1 alpha and VEGF RNA expression levels in the colon tissues in the active and healing phases of ischemic colitis.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Immunostaining of HIF-1 alpha or VEGF in the colon tissues. Weak HIF-1 alpha or VEGF immunoreactive cells were scattered in epithelial cells and interstitial cells in normal colon tissue (A: HIF-1 alpha; B: VEGF). In contrast, strong HIF-1 alpha or VEGF immunoreactive cells were diffusely seen in the epithelial and intestinal cells, including inflammatory cells in the ischemic colitis lesions (C: HIF-1 alpha; D: VEGF). Scale bars represent 100 μm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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