Essential role of vascular endothelial growth factor in angiotensin II - Induced vascular inflammation and remodeling

Angiotensin II (Ang II) upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) and activates vascular inflammation. However, the decisive role of VEGF in Ang II-induced vascular inflammation and remodeling has not been addressed. Ang II infusion to wild-type mice increased local expression of VEGF and its receptors in cells of aortic wall and plasma VEGF, and caused aortic inflammation ( monocyte infiltration) and remodeling ( wall thickening and fibrosis). Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha colocalized with VEGF-positive cell types. Blockade of VEGF by the soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sFlt-1) gene transfer attenuated the Ang II-induced inflammation and remodeling. The sFlt-1 gene transfer also inhibited the increased expression of VEGF and inflammatory factors such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. In contrast, sFlt-1 gene transfer did not affect Ang II-induced arterial hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. VEGF is an essential mediator in Ang II-induced vascular inflammation and structural changes through its proinflammatory actions.