Estrogen and Hypoxia Regulate Levels of VEGF and its Receptors in the Mice Uterine Cervix and Are Expressed in Human

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Takako Ohashi (Creator)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/
Advisor
Chishimba Mowa

Abstract: The cervix undergoes significant changes over the course of pregnancy, such as increase in tissue size, microvascular remodeling and increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (KDR and Flt-1). VEGF has been studied in various parts of body and in various cancers; however the regulation of VEGF in healthy cervix has not been examined. We hypothesize the factors to influence VEGF in the cervix may include mechanical stress, sex steroid hormones, hypoxia, relaxin and cytokines. In the present study we examined: a) the effects of hypoxia and estrogen (E2) on the expression of VEGF and receptors and b) the expression pattern and identity of cell types expressing VEGF and receptors in non-diseased, non-pregnant mice and human cervices. Our present findings: a) show that hypoxia and E2 induce expression of VEGF in the cervix of mice; b) show the similarity of VEGF and receptor expressions in the human cervix to the mice cervix. We conclude that VEGF expressions are altered by hypoxia and E2; and are variably expressed and synthesized by multiple cell types in mice and human cervix. Our data shed new insights into the VEGF regulation and expression patterns in the cervix of rodents and human.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Ohashi, T. (2013). Estrogen and Hypoxia Regulate Levels of VEGF and its Receptors in the Mice Uterine Cervix and Are Expressed in Human. Unpublished master’s thesis. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
Language: English
Date: 2013
Keywords
VEGF, VEGF receptors, Uterine cervix, Estrogen, Hypoxia

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