title: Hyperplasia of lymphatic vessels in VEGF-C transgenic mice.
abstract: No growth factors specific for the lymphatic vascular system have yet been described. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) regulates vascular permeability and angiogenesis, but does not promote lymphangiogenesis. Overexpression of VEGF-C, a ligand of the VEGF receptors VEGFR-3 and VEGFR-2, in the skin of transgenic mice resulted in lymphatic, but not vascular, endothelial proliferation and vessel enlargement. Thus, VEGF-C induces selective hyperplasia of the lymphatic vasculature, which is involved in the draining of interstitial fluid and in immune function, inflammation, and tumor metastasis. VEGF-C may play a role in disorders involving the lymphatic system and may be of potential use in therapeutic lymphangiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeltsch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaipainen
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Joukov
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lakso
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rauvala
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fukumura
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alitalo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004729:Endothelium, Lymphatic / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3