VEGF augmentation enhances apoptotic cell uptake but VEGF receptor inhibition does not decrease efferocytic activity in the murine lung. A: C57BL/6 mice were treated with a single subcutaneous dose of SU5416 or vehicle control. Apoptotic thymocytes were intratracheally instilled 7 days after SU5416 treatment. AM phagocytosis was assessed 1 h later. Control phagocytic index was 5.0 ± 0.5. N ≥ 19 per group. P = 0.12 for SU5416 20 mg/kg dose. B: C57BL/6 mice were treated with intraperitoneal anti-VEGF R1 (800 μg), anti-VEGF R2 (800 μg), both anti-VEGF R1 and anti-VEGF R2, or rat IgG on days 0, 3, and 5. Apoptotic thymocytes were administered intratracheally on day 6. Phagocytosis was assessed in AMs from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 1 h later. Control phagocytic index was 7.1 ± 1.9. N = 6 per group. C and D: transgenic mice with doxycycline (doxy)-inducible expression of human VEGF165 and C57BL/6 mice were treated with doxy-containing or regular chow. At 3 (C) or 7 (D) days after transgene activation, apoptotic thymocytes were instilled intratracheally. AMs were then harvested by BAL 1 h after instillation and phagocytic uptake was assessed. WT, wild-type mice; OE, overexpressor mice. N = 11–12 per group and 5 per group, respectively. *P < 0.05 versus WT/doxy, VEGF OE/Reg, and WT/Reg. ‡P < 0.05 versus WT/Reg.