title: [Vascular endothelial growth factor--structure and functions].
abstract: Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), originally described as a vascular permeability factor, is currently known as one of the main factors which regulate angiogenesis. It plays an important role in the regulation of normal as well as pathological angiogenesis. In this paper we try to shortly review the actual knowledge on VEGF protein family, its expression, VEGF receptors and role of VEGF in signal transduction. The aim of this review is also to summarize recent achievements in research on biological functions of vascular endothelial growth factor and their clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Medical Biophysics, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka St., 92-215 Lodz, Poland. patrycja@zdn.am.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barańska
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jerczyńska
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pawłowska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A