posted
just wondering if anyone out there has high VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), and symptom of bartonella as well?
My VEGF is near 300; normal is below 115. Not tested yet for bartonella but have lots of lymph and fever symptoms.
Dr. S in Mold Warriors writes about the dangers of low VEGF, because it limits the body's ability to supply tissue with blood, oxygen, nutrients, etc. But Buhner's "Healing Lyme" book cites research showing that "bartonella bacteria use VEGF to control and maximize their intrusion into endothelial cells" (p. 200). So high VEGF could conceivably be clue to bartonella infection.
Here's one of many pubmed cites on the matter:
Evidence of a leading role for VEGF in Bartonella henselae-induced endothelial cell proliferations. Kempf VA, Volkmann B, Schaller M, Sander CA, Alitalo K, Riess T, Autenrieth IB. Cell Microbiol. 2001 Sep;3(9):623-32.
Bartonella henselae causes the vasculoproliferative disorders bacillary angiomatosis (BA) and bacillary peliosis (BP). The pathomechanisms of these tumorous proliferations are unknown. Our results suggest a novel bacterial two-step pathogenicity strategy, in which the pathogen triggers growth factor production for subsequent proliferation of its own host cells. In fact, B. henselae induces host cell production of the angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), leading to proliferation of endothelial cells. The presence of B. henselae pili was associated with host cell VEGF production, as a Pil- mutant of B. henselae was unable to induce VEGF production. In turn, VEGF-stimulated endothelial cells promoted the growth of B. henselae. Immunohistochemistry for VEGF in specimens from patients with BA or BP revealed increased VEGF expression in vivo. These findings suggest a novel bacteria-dependent mechanism of tumour growth.
PMID: 11553014 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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