Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor-Like Domain 7 in Neonatal Rat Lungs During Normoxia and Hyperoxia.

Purpose of Study: Preterm babies treated with ventilator support and supplemental oxygen frequently develop chronic lung disease (CLD) that has significant mortality and morbidity. Oxygen toxicity plays an important role in CLD etiology. Several lines of evidence have suggested that impairment of pulmonary angiogenesis is implicated in alveolization and the development of CLD. Epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL-7) is a recently identified protein secreted from vascular endothelial cells and it regulates vascular tubulogenesis (Nature 2004;428:754). Aim of this study was to measure EGFL-7 expression in the neonatal lung during normoxia and hyperoxia.