VEGF and PDGF have distinct roles in development of experimental obliterative bronchiolitis—a therapeutic approach

Abstract

Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) is the leading cause of lung allograft loss but no efficient treatment for OB is exists. Inflammation and subsequent smooth muscle cell proliferation are central in OB development, leading to gradual occlusion of bronchioles. We examined the possibility to treat OB by selective inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor tyrosine kinase activity in rat tracheal allografts with PTK787 and imatinib respectively.