An Investigation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2) in Burn Wound Healing

Burn damage is a complicated trauma that causes local and general tissue edema as a result of cell breakage and capillary leak syndrome. Angiogenesis plays a key part in the mechanisms that are initiated by tissue damage (e.g., burns) since it works directly and precisely on endothelial cells. The primary mediators of angiogenesis are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2). This study aimed to figure out what functions VEGF and its receptors play in wound healing after burn, and the systemic release of VEGF in people following severe burn damage. This study included 23 burnt adult serum and 20 healthy controls. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent test was used to assess circulating VEGF serum levels and its receptors (VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2). VEGF serum levels were considerably higher in this study, compared to VEGF levels in healthy controls. The levels of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 have significantly risen; moreover, VEGF and its receptors have a significant impact on edema-related problems in severely burned individuals. Burn is a frequent disease that damages the skin and induces the production of mediators that cause neovasculature in the majority of patients. VEGF, which causes vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, is one of the most important factors in the skin.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 Expression Predicts Sentinel Node Status in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma

This study analysed the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF), VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3 in primary cutaneous melanomas with positive and negative sentinel node status (SLN) (a total of 58 specimens divided into 2 groups of 29 for each status). The specimens were collected from the pathological archive of the department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology of the University Medical Center Heidelberg. A quantification score was developed for protein expression, by considering the percentage of positive melanoma cells (0: 0%, 1: up to 1%, 2: 2–10%, 3: 11–50%, and 4: > 50%) in relation to the intensity of staining (0: negative, 1: low, 2: medium, 3: strong). Tumoural VEGFR-3 expression (mean ± standard deviation) in SLN+ tumours (9.62 ± 3.09) was significantly stronger than in SLN– tumours (6.13 ± 3.87; p < 0.001). A binary logistic regression model proved VEGFR-3 expression and tumour thickness to be significant independent predictors of SLN. These data provide evidence that VEGFR-3 expression may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of malignant melanoma and that its investigation may help to improve the selection of patients with primary cutaneous melanoma for sentinel node biopsy.

Short-term prognosis of childhood hepatoblastoma in relation to ERCC1 C118T single nucleotide polymorphism and VEGF expression

To evaluate the short-term prognosis of pediatric hepatoblastoma (HB) in relation to excision repair cross-complementation gene 1 (ERCC1) C118T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and VEGF expression. ERCC1 C118T SNP and VEGF expression were detected and investigated in 31 children with HB undergoing platinum-based chemotherapy, to analyze their relationship with short-term pediatric HB prognosis. CC (38.7%; 12/31), CT (35.5%; 11/31), and TT (25.8%; 8/31) ERCC1 C118T mutation types were identified. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the CC group had a better short-term prognosis than the CT + TT group (p = 0.010). VEGF was overexpressed in 14 cases (45.2%) and underexpressed in 17 cases (54.8%). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the high VEGF expression group showed poorer short-term prognosis than the lower VEGF expression group (p = 0.004). In this study, ERCC1 C118T SNP in children with HB was mainly found to be mutant type CT + TT. Compared to wild type CC, children with the mutant type CT + TT exhibited better treatment efficacy and remission with platinum-based chemotherapy as well as better survival rates. Moreover, the short-term prognosis of children with low VEGF expression was better than in those with high expression.