Vascular endothelial growth factor.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in angiogenesis in development, in cancer and in other important diseases. VEGF regulates multiple endothelial cell functions including mitogenesis, permeability, vascular tone, and the production of vasoactive molecules. VEGF is related to several polypeptides which may have different and overlapping functions. The synthesis of VEGF is regulated by hypoxia-mediated control of gene transcription, alternative mRNA splicing and proteolytic processing. The diverse biological activities of VEGF are mediated through at least two receptor protein tyrosine kinases, KDR/Flk-1 and Flt-1. Because of VEGF's central importance for pathophysiological angiogenesis, the development of antagonists for VEGF in the treatment of cancer, and the use of VEGF therapeutically in cardiovascular diseases are now the focus of major research efforts.
Zachary
I
I
Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, UK. i.zachary@ucl.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000196:embryology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1