Vascular endothelial growth factor expression under ischemic stress in human meningiomas

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelial cell-specific a ntigen a nd angiogenic factor that plays a role in angiogenesis. We analyze d the expression of four VEGF mRNA isoforms in meningiomas. Among 35 mening iomas, 11 came from patients who underwent complete (n = 4) or partial (n = 7) preoperative embolization. Northern blotting revealed markedly elevated expression of total VEGF mRNA in meningiomas compared with normal brain ti ssues. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction rev ealed that the four isoforms are expressed with relative levels of VEGF121 > 165 > 206 = 189 in all samples. However, the VEGF121 and 165 isoforms wer e significantly upregulated in samples from patients who underwent partial preoperative embolization. The diffusible VEGF121 isoform may be important for vascularity and edema formation in meningiomas. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scien ce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.