Vascular endothelial growth factor and anti-angiogenic peptides as therapeutic and investigational molecules.
The fundamental importance of angiogenesis in health and disease makes both inhibition and stimulation of blood vessel formation a major therapeutic goal. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the single most important angiogenic factor in disease-associated neovascularization and is both a major focus for the development of anti-angiogenic medicines for cancer and a candidate pro-angiogenic cytokine for the treatment of ischemic heart disease. The development of VEGF-specific or vascular-specific peptides is an emerging approach to the design of therapeutic molecules targeted against pathophysiological angiogenesis. This article highlights recent progress toward the development of anti-angiogenic and vascular-specific peptides with a focus on peptidic VEGF receptor antagonists.
Zachary
Ian
I
University College London, Department of Medicine, 5 University Street, London, WC1E 6JJ UK. i.zachary@ucl.ac.uk
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000502:physiology; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D010455:Peptides; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor