Structure and function of placental growth factor.
Placental growth factor (PlGF) belongs to the same family as the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). Recent gene inactivation studies in mice have demonstrated that loss of PlGF does not affect development, reproduction, or normal postnatal life. However, the mice show significantly impaired angiogenesis and arteriogenesis during pathological conditions such as ischemia and tumor formation, conditions in which the expression of VEGF-A is normally increased. Mice expressing a truncated form of the specific receptor for PlGF, the VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR-1), show impaired angiogenesis similar to that observed in Plgf(-/-)mice. These data suggest a pivotal role for PlGF and VEGFR-1 in regulating VEGF-A-dependent angiogenesis under pathological conditions. VEGF-A has been utilized for the therapeutic stimulation of new blood vessels in ischemic hearts and limbs, with controversial results from the initial clinical experience. This review discusses the possibility of using the PlGF/VEGFR-1 pathway as an alternative target for angiogenic therapy.
De Falco
Sandro
S
International Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, CNR, Napoli, Italy
Gigante
Bruna
B
Persico
M Graziella
MG
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
C000608036:PGF protein, human; C000608037:Pgf protein, mouse; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1