EG-VEGF and Bv8: a novel family of tissue-restricted angiogenic factors.
A novel family of angiogenic mitogens have been recently characterized. Endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF), and the mammalian homologue of Bombina variegata peptide 8 (Bv8), are two highly related endothelial cell mitogens and chemotactic factors with restricted expression profiles and selective endothelial cell activity. These peptides share two cognate G-protein coupled receptors. The expression of human EG-VEGF occurs predominantly in steroidogenic glands. Consistent with such an expression pattern, the human EG-VEGF gene promoter has a potential binding site for steroidogenic factor (SF)-1, a pivotal element for steroidogenic-specific transcription. In the human ovary, the expression of EG-VEGF is temporally and spatially complementary to the expression of VEGF-A, both in the follicular and in the luteal phase, suggesting complementary and coordinated roles of these molecules in ovarian angiogenesis. Also, EG-VEGF expression correlates with vascularity in the polycystic ovary syndrome, a leading cause of infertility. Bv8 expression is mainly restricted to the testis. The identification of these tissue-selective angiogenic factors raises the possibility that other secreted molecules with selectivity for the endothelium of other organs exist.
Ferrara
Napoleone
N
Department of Molecular Oncology, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA. nf@gene.com
LeCouter
Jennifer
J
Lin
Rui
R
Peale
Franklin
F
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D042662:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Endocrine-Gland-Derived / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology
D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; C423608:PROK2 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042662:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Endocrine-Gland-Derived