Figure 8

VEGF-D concentration in human peritoneal dialysis effluent correlated with the peritoneal transport rate (dialysate to plasma ratio of creatinine, D/P Cr). VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 mRNA levels were increased in ultrafiltration failure in human peritoneal biopsy samples. (a) Positive correlation between the VEGF-D concentration in the peritoneal dialysis effluent of samples dwelled for 4 h and the dialysate to plasma ratio of creatinine (D/P Cr). (b) Positive correlation between VEGF-D concentration in overnight-dwelled peritoneal dialysis effluent samples and the dialysate to plasma ratio of creatinine. VEGF-D (c) and VEGFR-3 (d) mRNA levels, as assessed using qRT–PCR, were significantly higher in patients with ultrafiltration failure than in patients with pre-dialysis uremia, or in patients in the incident group. (e) Double immunofluorescent analysis showed that VEGF-D is mainly expressed by macrophages in human peritoneal biopsy specimens of bacterial peritonitis. Scale bar, 50 μm. qRT–PCR, quantitative reverse transcription–PCR; UFF, ultrafiltration failure; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.