title: VEGF receptor signaling and endothelial function.
abstract: Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting ones, is a central process during normal development and during pathological repair. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) can stimulate both physiological and pathological angiogensis. VEGF-A is a ligand for the two receptor tyrosine kinases VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1). Most biological functions of VEGF-A are mediated via VEGFR-2, whereas the role of VEGFR-1 is largely unknown. Activation of mitogen-activated kinase, stress-activated kinase, protein kinase C, and the Akt pathway are implicated in VEGF-A-dependent endothelial function, including cell survival, proliferation, generation of nitric oxide, and the induction of angiogenesis. Induction of metalloproteinases, activation of focal adhesion kinase and of PI3-kinase are implicated in VEGF-A-induced endothelial cell migration. The important role of nitric oxide as a mediator of endothelial function in vivo links the receptor signaling network to other biological effects.
authors.affiliation: Ulm University Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine II, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kliche
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waltenberger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement; D002470:Cell Survival; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor