A novel human-specific soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1. Cell type-specific splicing and implications to vascular endothelial growth factor homeostasis and preeclampsia

摘要

The mRNA of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGF-1R) can undergo alternative splicing, such as the soluble sVEGF-lR (designated as sFltl) which is an inhibitor of both VEGF and placental growth factor (P1GF). The ratio of Fltl/sFltl may determine the extent to which an endothelial or non-endothelial cell will transmit or resist VEGF signaling. Thomas CP et al. (FASEB J 2007; 21: 3885-3895) reported about an additional truncated Fltl RNA transcript, which was also observed in the actual study. The new variant with 733 amino acids is designated as sFltl-14 because of the splice acceptor site within intr'on 14. Antibodies against sFltl-14 were directed against car-boxy-terminal unique epitopes with a polyserine stretch. A commercial ELISA kit for the detection of all sVEGF receptor isoforms was used.