Associations between VEGF isoforms and impending retinopathy of prematurity. Issue 7 (19th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Movsas, Tammy Z.; Muthusamy, Arivalagan
• Is Part Of: International journal of developmental neuroscience. Issue 80:Issue 7(2020:Nov.)
• Page Start: 586
• Page End: 593
• Publication Date: 2020-08-19
• Subjects: preterm infants -- retinopathy of prematurity -- VEGF; Developmental neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurologie du développement -- Périodiques; Developmental neurobiology; Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-5748

Abstract

Abstract: Background/Objective: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is the main driver of angiogenesis during neurodevelopment (i.e., brain and retina). VEGF165 and VEGF121 are the two most prevalent human VEGF isoforms. Although retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a neuroretinal disorder, is associated with VEGF dysregulation, little is known about the interaction of VEGF isoforms on neuroretinal angiogenesis. We hypothesized that: (a) A specific VEGF165/VEGF121 correlation, at a given time point, is associated with normal retinal development (no ROP) and (b) An altered correlation, of such, is associated with aberrant retinal development (ROP). Utilizing pre‐collected dried blood spots (DBS) from <1‐week‐old preterm infants, we aimed to determine whether correlations between VEGF165 and VEGF121 precede the diagnosis of early stage, non‐proliferative ROP (NP‐ROP). Methodology: We conducted a case/control study, utilizing DBS from 65 preterm infants. We measured DBS levels of VEGF165 on the Mesoscale Discovery Platform and VEGF121 via Cloud Clone Elisa Assay. Results: In infants with NP‐ROP, VEGF165 is significantly higher in males (than females). In infants without ROP, there is a significant correlation between VEGF165 and VEGF121 in females (but not males). In infants with NP‐ROP, the opposite is so; there is a significant correlation between VEGF165 and VEGF121 in males (but not females). Conclusions: This pilot study, utilizing de‐identified data, suggests the potential importance of examining interactions between VEGF isoforms, at <1 week after birth, to better understand ROP development. Our study also suggests that retinal angiogenesis may not be a sex‐neutral process. A prospective study is needed to confirm our novel findings. Abstract : Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is the main driver of angiogenesis during neuroretinal development. VEGF165 and VEGF121 are the two most prevalent isoforms. VEGF 165 and VEGF 121 levels were measured on dried bloodspots (DBS) from 65 preterm infants. All DBS were drawn at <1 week after birth. This pilot study included preemies with non‐proliferative retinopathy of prematurity (NP‐ROP) and counterparts with no ROP. VEGF121/VEGF165 correlations in preemies' blood, at <1 week old, are different for infants with and without impending NP‐ROP. Also, VEGF isoform associations with normal and abnormal retinal development are potentially sex dependent; thus, angiogenesis may not be a sex‐neutral process.