기관지천식환자에서 기도의 혈관내피성장인자와 저산소증 유발인자의 표현

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is ond of the most potent inducers of vascular formation and also increases vascular permeability, which may contribute to pathogenesis of asthma. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is enhamced by hypoxic state and induces VEGF strongly. HIF-2α may have strong relationship with VEGF and pathogenesis of asthma. We evaluated the relationship between VEGF and eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and hyperresponsiveness, obstruction of airway. Also we evaluated the relationship between VEGF and HIF-2α in asthmatics. BAL fluid and biopsy specimens of airway was obtained from 28 glucocorticoids free asthmatics and 12 healthy control subjecets. We exmained VEGF levels and eosinophil count from BAL fluid, and HIF-2α levels and VEGF levels from biopsy specimen. The VEGF levels were significantly higher in asthmatics than in control subjects (P<0.01), and did not correlate with metacholine-hyperresponsiveness and FEV1. The eosinophil count was correlated with VEGF levels in BAL fluid (r=0.501, P<0.01). The HIF-2α levels were significantly higher in asthmatics than control subjcets (P<0.05). correlated with VEGF levels (r=0.871, P<0.01). VEGF levels were increased in airway of asthmatics and correlated with degree of eosinophilic airway inflammation. HIF-2α levels were increased in airway of asthmatics. Furthermore, VEGF levels were significantly correlated with HIF-2α levels. These findings provide strong evidence that VEGF may play an impartant role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma and regulated by HIF-2α.