title: VEGF ligands and receptors: implications in neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration.
abstract: Intensive research in the last decade shows that the prototypic angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can have direct effects in neurons and modulate processes such as neuronal migration, axon outgrowth, axon guidance and neuronal survival. Depending on the neuronal cell type and the process, VEGF seems to exert these effects by signaling via different receptors. It is also becoming clear that other VEGF ligands such as VEGF-B, -C and -D can act in various neuronal cell types as well. Moreover, apart from playing a role in physiological conditions, VEGF and VEGF-B have been related to different neurological disorders. We give an update on how VEGF controls different processes during neurodevelopment as well as on its role in several neurodegenerative disorders. We also discuss recent findings demonstrating that other VEGF ligands influence processes such as neurogenesis and dendrite arborization and participate in neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular Link, Vesalius Research Center, K.U.Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. peter.carmeliet@vib-kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carmeliet
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruiz de Almodovar
authors.forename: Ruiz de Almodovar
authors.initials: Rde A
authors.lastname: Carmen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor