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Vascular endothelial growth factor acts as a survival factor for newly formed retinal vessels and has implications for retinopathy of prematurity

Nature Medicine volume 1, pages 1024–1028 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is initiated by hyperoxia–induced obliteration of newly formed blood vessels in the retina of the premature newborn. We propose that vessel regression is a consequence of hyperoxia–induced withdrawal of a critical vascular survival factor. We show that regression of retinal capillaries in neonatal rats exposed to high oxygen, is preceded by a shut–off of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production by nearby neuroglial cells. Vessel regression occurs via selective apoptosis of endothelial cells. Intraocular injection of VEGF at the onset of experimental hyperoxia prevents apoptotic death of endothelial cells and rescues the retinal vasculature. These findings provide evidence for a specific angiogenic factor acting as a vascular survival factor in vivo. The system also provides a paradigm for vascular remodelling as an adaptive response to an increase in oxygen tension and suggests a novel approach to prevention of ROP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Molecular Biology and Hebrew, University–Hadassah Medical School, P.O. Box 12272, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel

    Tamar Alon, Ahuva Itin & Eli Keshet

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Hebrew University–Hadassah Medical School, P.O. Box 12272, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel

    Itzhak Hemo & Jacob Pe'er

  3. Department of Anatomy and Histology, Sydney University, New South Wales, 2006, Australia

    Jonathan Stone

Authors
  1. Tamar Alon
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  2. Itzhak Hemo
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  4. Jacob Pe'er
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  5. Jonathan Stone
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  6. Eli Keshet
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Alon, T., Hemo, I., Itin, A. et al. Vascular endothelial growth factor acts as a survival factor for newly formed retinal vessels and has implications for retinopathy of prematurity. Nat Med 1, 1024–1028 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1095-1024

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