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.
Department of Molecular Oncology, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA. nf@gene.com
Napoleone
N
Ferrara
Jennifer
J
LeCouter
Rui
R
Lin
Franklin
F
Peale
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