[Neuroprotective mechanisms of vascular endothelial growth factor].
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), originally discovered in tumor cells, is an angiogenic factor essential for new blood vessel formation during embryogenesis and in many pathological conditions. There is a growing body of evidence that VEGF can act directly on neurons and plays a new role as a neuroprotective factor via multiple mechanisms. Moreover, VEGF modulates neurogenesis in constitutive neurogenic and non-neurogenic regions of adult mammalian brains, which is a promising therapeutic strategy for neuronal replacement in traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we mainly reviewed the neuroprotection of VEGF against ischemic brain injury and its mechanisms.
Wang
Yong-Quan
YQ
Department of Neurobiology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Sun
Feng-Yan
FY
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A