Abstract
Brain arteriovenous malformation (BAVM), a rare but important cause of intracranial hemorrhage, has increased angiogenesis and inflammation as key components of the nidus of abnormal vessels and stroma that form the resected surgical specimen. Accordingly, both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta have been implicated in the pathology of BAVM for their proangiogenic and vascular-regulating roles. The C-terminal fragment of the extracellular matrix component perlecan (domain V, DV) has been shown to be increased and through the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin, to increase VEGF levels in and around areas of cerebral ischemic injury, another proangiogenic condition. We aimed to determine whether the concentrations of DV, DV's proangiogenic receptor 115131 integrin, or DV's antiangiogenic receptor alpha 2 beta 1 integrin are elevated in human BAVM tissue. DV levels were increased in BAVM compared with control brain tissue from epileptic resection, as was alpha 5 beta 1 integrin. In addition, alpha 5 beta 1 integrin was preferentially increased and localized to endothelial cells compared with alpha 2 beta 1 integrin. VEGF and transforming growth factor-beta levels were also increased in BAVM compared with control tissue. Furthermore, increases in all components were strongly correlated. Excessive generation of proangiogenic DV in BAVM suggests that DV may participate in its pathology and may represent a future therapeutic target NeuroReport 23:627-630 (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.