VEGF gene expression in norepinephrine/ burn serum-induced rat astrocytes

AIM: To investigate the changes of gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in norepinephrine/ burn serum-induced astrocytes. METHODS: Immunofluorescence staining was used to show the distribution of VEGF in astrocytes after 24 h using norepinephrine/burn serum stimulation. Western blotting was used to detect protein expression of VEGF. Real time PCR was used to investigate expression of VEGF mRNA. RESULTS: ① Green fluorescence of protein expression of VEGF in astrocytes was increased when treated with high dose norepinephrine (50 μmol/L). Green fluorescence of protein expression of VEGF in astrocytes was increased distinctness after burn serum stimulation. Green fluorescence protein expression of VEGF in astrocytes was increased significantly when high dose norepinephrine combined with burn serum stimulation was added. ② VEGF protein expression in burn serum stimulating group was increased, and VEGF protein expression was significantly increased when burn serum was added during moderate (20 μmol/L), high dose norepinephrine stimulation. ③ Expression of VEGF mRNA was increased in burn serum-treated astrocytes. Expression of VEGF mRNA was increased significantly when norepinephrine-stimulated astrocytes exposed to barn serum, and as norepinephrine dose increases gradually. CONCLUSION: Norepinephrine and burn serum play an important role in inducing VEGF protein expression in astrocytes, suggesting that stress reaction of postburn is an important cause in inducing brain edema by excreting VEGF in astrocytes.