RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA and protein expression in airway epithelial cell lines in vitro JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 1449 OP 1456 DO 10.1183/09031936.02.00089802 VO 20 IS 6 A1 Koyama, S. A1 Sato, E. A1 Tsukadaira, A. A1 Haniuda, M. A1 Numanami, H. A1 Kurai, M. A1 Nagai, S. A1 Izumi, T. YR 2002 UL https://publications.ersnet.org//content/20/6/1449.abstract AB Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays multifunctional roles in vascular permeability, repair and remodelling processes, in addition to the maintenance of vascular structure and function. In the present study, the potential of airway epithelial cell lines, BEAS-2B cells and A549 cells, to release and express VEGF in unstimulated and stimulated conditions was evaluated. The secretion and expression of VEGF were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The isoforms of released VEGF were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. BEAS-2B cells and A549 cells released VEGF constitutively. Interleukin (IL)-1β and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α augmented the release of VEGF in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The released VEGF was 165 amino acid residues in either condition. Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interferon (IFN)-γ, smoke extract (SE), neutrophil elastase (NE), and bradykinin stimulated the release of VEGF. Keracinocyte growth factor (KGF), which reduces vascular permeability, also stimulated both cells to release VEGF. VEGF messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was expressed both time- and dose-dependently at 2 h, and declined after 2 h in response to IL-1β and TNF-α. The expression of VEGF mRNA in airway epithelial cells was also augmented by LPS, IFN-γ, SE, NE, and KGF stimulation. These data suggest that airway epithelial cells may regulate the maintenance of vascular structure and function, as well as vascular permeability, repair and remodelling processes, in a variety of lung conditions by expressing vascular endothelial growth factor.