New roles for VEGF in nervous tissue--beyond blood vessels.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a secreted dimeric polypeptide that until recently has been believed to be a specific mitogen for endothelial cells subserving angiogenesis and permeability in development and after injury. Recent studies have depicted the localization of VEGF and its receptors on neurons and astrocytes and it has been shown to induce neuritic growth and to provide neuroprotection particularly after ischemia or spinal cord injuries. VEGF also shares common receptor signaling with the guidance molecule SEMA3A and thus could have an additional role linking the coordinated patterning of developing vascular and nervous tissue. It is now apparent that VEGF's role in nervous tissue is pleiotropic in nature, and further elucidation of its mechanisms of action may serve as a key substrate in understanding aspects of neural repair and development.
Rosenstein
Jeffrey M
JM
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA. anajmr@gwumc.edu
Krum
Janette M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D040121:Semaphorin-3A / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A