VEGF-induced angiogenesis ameliorates the memory impairment in APP transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2011 Aug 5;411(3):620-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.07.003. Epub 2011 Jul 13.

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was investigated in the present study to see whether it could provide a therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). PDGF-hAPP(V717I) transgenic mice were treated with VEGF or PBS by intraperitoneal injection for three consecutive days. The results showed that VEGF ameliorated the memory impairment of mice, accompanied by CD34(+) cells increasing in peripheral blood, vWF(+) vessels increasing in hippocampus, and CD34(+)/VEGFR2(+), vWF(+)/VEGFR2(+) and BrdU(+)/vWF(+) cells expressing in hippocampus. Furthermore, the level of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was considerably enhanced and Aβ deposition was decreased in the brains of mice upon VEGF treatment. These observations suggest that VEGF should be pursued as a novel therapeutic agent for treatment of AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / complications*
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Animals
  • Brain / blood supply*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Memory Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Memory Disorders / etiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects*
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A