Concentrations of Hepatocyte Growth Factor, Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Pericardial Fluid and Plasma

• Published in: Japanese Heart Journal Vol. 45; no. 6; pp. 989 - 998
• Main Authors: Kubota, Tetsuya, Namiki, Atsushi, Fukazawa, Masayuki, Ishikawa, Michiro, Moroi, Masao, Ebine, Kunio, Yamaguchi, Tetsu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan International Heart Journal Association 2004
• Subjects: Aged; Angiogenesis Inducing Agents - metabolism; Basic fibroblast growth factor; Collateral Circulation; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - blood; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - metabolism; Hepatocyte growth factor; Hepatocyte Growth Factor - blood; Hepatocyte Growth Factor - metabolism; Humans; Ischemic heart disease; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Ischemia - metabolism; Myocardial Ischemia - physiopathology; Myocardial Ischemia - surgery; Myocardium - metabolism; Nonischemic heart disease; Pericardial Effusion - metabolism; Pericardial fluid; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors - blood; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 0021-4868; 1348-673X
• DOI: 10.1536/jhj.45.989

Some angiogenic factors, including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have been reported to promote angiogenesis and improve myocardial perfusion in experimental models of ischemic heart disease. These factors are produced in various tissues, including myocardium. We measured the concentrations of HGF, bFGF, and VEGF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasma and in pericardial fluid sampled during open heart surgery (12 patients with ischemic heart disease and 17 with nonischemic heart disease). HGF levels were significantly higher in plasma than in pericardial fluid (12.0 ± 1.8 versus 0.26 ± 0.04 ng/mL, P < 0.0001). On the other hand, bFGF levels were significantly higher in pericardial fluid than in plasma (243.5 ± 50.9 versus 49.6 ± 7.8 pg/mL, P = 0.009). VEGF levels were not significantly different between pericardial fluid and plasma (47.2 ± 17.6 versus 24.5 ± 3.6 pg/mL, P = 0.23). Concentrations of angiogenic factors in pericardial fluid and in plasma were not significantly different between patients with ischemic and nonischemic heart disease. These results suggest that the production, secretion, and kinetics of HGF, bFGF, and VEGF are different. These angiogenic factors may have different pathophysiologic roles.