Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): paradox or paradigm?
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the most severe form of acute lung injury (ALI), remains a devastating condition with a high mortality. It is characterised by alveolar injury and increased pulmonary vascular permeability. Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) was identified by its properties to increase permeability and act as a cellular growth factor, hence its potential for a key role in the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS. This review describes the basic biology of VEGF and its receptors as an essential prerequisite to discussing the available and sometimes paradoxical published data, before considering a paradigm for the role of VEGF in the human lung.
Medford
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AR
Lung Research Group, Department of Clinical Science at North Bristol, University of Bristol Lifeline Centre, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK.
Millar
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AB
D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000737:chemistry; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A