Whittemore Peterson Institute

Nephropathia epidemica (NE) is an acute zoonosis, caused by Puumala virus, belongs to genus Hantavirus. Disturbed hemostasis is characteristic for the NE, where signs of increased vascular permeability and bleeding are described at early stage of the disease. Although pathogenesis of vascular permeability remains unknown, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was suggested to play role. There are several isoforms of VEGF based on the alternate splicing of the exon 6 and 7. These isoforms differ in ability to support endothelial cells proliferation and survival. The isoform VEGF165 promotes endothelial cell growth and remodeling, while the isoform VEGF121 lacks such effect. We have found increased level of VEGF in serum from NE cases. The VEGF isoform analysis revealed presence of only VEGF165, while isoform VEGF121 was absent. Therefore, we suggest that VEGF in serum of NE cases function to promote endothelial cells proliferation and vascular remodeling.