title: Roles of vascular endothelial growth factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal devastating neurodegenerative disorder, involving progressive degeneration of motor neurons in spinal cord, brainstem, and motor cortex. Riluzole is the only drug approved in ALS but it only confers a modest improvement in survival. In spite of a high number of clinical trials no other drug has proved effectiveness. Recent studies support that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), originally described as a key angiogenic factor, also plays a key role in the nervous system, including neurogenesis, neuronal survival, neuronal migration, and axon guidance. VEGF has been used in exploratory clinical studies with promising results in ALS and other neurological disorders. Although VEGF is a very promising compound, translating the basic science breakthroughs into clinical practice is the major challenge ahead. VEGF-B, presenting a single safety profile, protects motor neurons from degeneration in ALS animal models and, therefore, it will be particularly interesting to test its effects in ALS patients. In the present paper the authors make a brief description of the molecular properties of VEGF and its receptors and review its different features and therapeutic potential in the nervous system/neurodegenerative disease, particularly in ALS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal ; Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), Translational Clinical Physiology Unit, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Catarina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pronto-Laborinho
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal ; Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), Translational Clinical Physiology Unit, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal ; Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), Translational Clinical Physiology Unit, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal ; Department of Neurosciences, Hospital Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mamede
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D019782:Riluzole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C467485:VEGFB protein, human; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B; D019782:Riluzole; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor