PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - C. Martin AU - G. Thévenot AU - S. Danel AU - J. Chapron AU - A. Tazi AU - J. Macey AU - D.J. Dusser AU - I. Fajac AU - P-R. Burgel TI - <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> induces vascular endothelial growth factor synthesis in airway epithelium <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> AID - 10.1183/09031936.00134910 DP - 2011 Oct 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 939--946 VI - 38 IP - 4 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/4/939.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/4/939.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Oct 01; 38 AB - Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) airway infection and bronchial blood vessel proliferation are features of bronchiectasis. Because vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A regulates angiogenesis, we hypothesised that PA infection induces VEGF synthesis in epithelium and peribronchial angiogenesis. Because epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation regulates VEGF synthesis in cancer, we also evaluated the roles of EGFR. Airway epithelial cells were incubated for 24 h with PA supernatants and VEGF concentrations were measured in culture medium by ELISA. C57BL/6N mice were instilled intratracheally with sterile agarose beads or with agarose beads coated with the PA strain PAO1 (mean±sem 6×105±3×105 cfu·animal−1), with or without the EGFR inhibitor AG1478 (12.5 mg·kg−1·day−1 intraperitoneally). Epithelial immunostaining for VEGF and phosphorylated EGFR, and peribronchial vascularity, were quantified using morphometric analysis. VEGF expression was further assessed by western blot in mouse lung homogenates. PA supernatants induced dose-dependent VEGF synthesis in cultured airway epithelial cells, effects which were prevented by EGFR antagonists. In mice, persistent PAO1 infection increased immunostaining for VEGF and phosphorylated EGFR in airway epithelium, and resulted in increased peribronchial vascularity within 7 days. These effects were reduced by EGFR inhibition. Persistent PA infection induced VEGF synthesis in airway epithelium and peribronchial angiogenesis, at least in part via EGFR-dependent mechanisms.