Differential expression of the two VEGF receptors flt and KDR in placenta and vascular endothelial cells.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a newly identified growth and permeability factor with a unique specificity for endothelial cells. Recently the flt-encoded tyrosine kinase was characterized as a receptor for VEGF. A novel tyrosine kinase receptor encoded by the KDR gene was also found to bind VEGF with high affinity when expressed in CMT-3 cells. Screening for flt and KDR expression in a variety of species and tissue-derived endothelial cells demonstrates that flt is predominantly expressed in human placenta and human vascular endothelial cells. Placenta growth factor (PIGF), a growth factor significantly related to VEGF, is coexpressed with flt in placenta and human vascular endothelial cells. KDR is more widely distributed and expressed in all vessel-derived endothelial cells. These data demonstrate that cultured human endothelial cells isolated from different tissues express both VEGF receptors in relative high levels and, additionally, that all investigated nonhuman endothelial cells in culture are also positive for KDR gene expression.
Barleon
B
B
Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Hauser
S
S
Schöllmann
C
C
Weindel
K
K
Marmé
D
D
Yayon
A
A
Weich
H A
HA
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015342:DNA Probes; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014471:Umbilical Veins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D015342:DNA Probes; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor