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Thromb Haemost 1998; 80(01): 171-175
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1615158
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Peripheral Blood Platelets Express VEGF-C and VEGF which Are Released during Platelet Activation

Ulla Wartiovaara
1   Departments of Clinical Chemistry and Biomedicine
,
Petri Salven
,
Hanna Mikkola
1   Departments of Clinical Chemistry and Biomedicine
,
Riitta Lassila
3   Wihuri Research Institute, Helsinki, Finland
,
Jaakko Kaukonen
1   Departments of Clinical Chemistry and Biomedicine
,
Vladimir Joukov
4   Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University, Finland
,
Arto Orpana
1   Departments of Clinical Chemistry and Biomedicine
,
Ari Ristimäki
6   Obstetr. Gynecol, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
,
Markku Heikinheimo
,
Heikki Joensuu
,
Kari Alitalo
4   Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University, Finland
,
Aarno Palotie
1   Departments of Clinical Chemistry and Biomedicine
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 18 August 1997

Accepted after resubmission 30 March 1998

Publication Date:
08 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

VEGF-C is a recently characterised endothelial growth factor structurally related to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We studied the expression of VEGF-C and VEGF in the cells of peripheral blood and in the umbilical cord blood CD 34+ cells, representing haematopoietic progenitor cells. Expression of VEGF-C was detected in the CD34+ cells. In peripheral blood VEGF-C mRNA was restricted to platelets and T-cells. In contrast to the expression pattern of VEGF-C, VEGF mRNA was detected in all peripheral blood cell fractions studied, and also in CD34+ cells. VEGF-C mRNA was also detected in fresh bone marrow samples of acute leukaemia patients, but the expression did not show lineage specificity. VEGF-C and VEGF polypeptides were present in platelets and they were released from activated platelets together with the release of β-thromboglobulin, suggesting that VEGF-C and VEGF reside in the α-granules of platelets. VEGF-C and VEGF, released from activated platelets, may have a role in angiogenesis during wound healing, and possibly also in other pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis, tumour growth, and metastasis formation.

 

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