Coordinate release of angiogenic growth factors after acute myocardial infarction: evidence of a two-wave production

Background Previous studies have shown that angiopoietic growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) are released after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It was suggested that the release of these factors, triggered by ischemia, may be related to a reparative neoangiogenetic process. Methods Plasma VEGF, Ang-2, HGF and TGF-beta levels were measured on admission (baseline) and at various times during the acute (0-48 h) and the subacute (48-240 h) phase in 44 patients with AMI. Results In the present study, we have explored in detail the kinetics of release of these growth factors after AMI with the precise aim of evaluating the existence of a double wave of release of these factors: 0) a first wave in the acute and 00 a second one in the subacute period. The results of these analyses provided evidence for an early (peak at 24-28 h) and late (peak at approximately 170 h) increase of VEGF, Ang-2 and TGF-beta. Conclusions According to these data, we suggest that two waves of release of angiogenic factors occur after AMI. The early release makes part of an acute phase response, whereas the late release may underlie the induction of angiogenetic mechanisms involved in tissue reparation.