Increased level of serum vascular endothelial growth factor by long-term exposure to hypergravity. |
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Authors: | Masanobu Oshima Hiromi Suzuki Xiaoying Guo Hiroko Oshima |
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Institution: | Division of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan. |
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Abstract: | We have previously demonstrated that short-term exposure to hypergravity at 2G for 4 h induces expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the mouse heart. Moreover, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is also induced in the heart in a COX-2-dependent manner. Here, we demonstrate that long-term exposure of mice to 2G for 24 h resulted in a significant increase of serum VEGF level, although expression of COX-2 and VEGF in the heart decreased to the 1G-control level. Moreover, increase of serum VEGF was not suppressed by treatment with COX-2 inhibitor, indicating that VEGF was induced in a COX-2-independent manner. These results suggest that gravitational force contributes to maintenance of the serum VEGF level. |
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