Peripheral blood platelets express VEGF-C and VEGF which are released during platelet activation
Wartiovaara, U.; Salven, P.; Mikkola, H.; Lassila, R.; Kaukonen, J.; Joukov, V.; Orpana, A.; Ristimäki, A.; Heikinheimo, M.; Joensuu, H.; Alitalo, K.; Palotie, A.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis 80(1): 171-175
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-6245 PMID: 9684805 Document Number: 491192
VEGF-C is a recently characterised endothelial growth factor structurally related to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We studied the expression of VEGF-C and VEGF in the cells of peripheral blood and in the umbilical cord blood CD 34+ cells, representing haematopoietic progenitor cells. Expression of VEGF-C was detected in the CD34+ cells. In peripheral blood VEGF-C mRNA was restricted to platelets and T-cells. In contrast to the expression pattern of VEGF-C, VEGF mRNA was detected in all peripheral blood cell fractions studied, and also in CD34+ cells. VEGF-C mRNA was also detected in fresh bone marrow samples of acute leukaemia patients, but the expression did not show lineage specificity. VEGF-C and VEGF polypeptides were present in platelets and they were released from activated platelets together with the release of beta-thromboglobulin, suggesting that VEGF-C and VEGF reside in the alpha-granules of platelets. VEGF-C and VEGF, released from activated platelets, may have a role in angiogenesis during wound healing, and possibly also in other pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis, tumour growth, and metastasis formation.