title: Vascular endothelial growth factors: multitasking functionality in metabolism, health and disease.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) bind to VEGF receptor tyrosine kinases (VEGFRs). The VEGF and VEGFR gene products regulate diverse regulatory pathways in mammalian development, health and disease. The interaction between a particular VEGF and its cognate VEGFR activates multiple signal transduction pathways which regulate different cellular responses including metabolism, gene expression, proliferation, migration, and survival. The family of VEGF isoforms regulate vascular physiology and promote tissue homeostasis. VEGF dysfunction is implicated in major chronic disease states including atherosclerosis, diabetes, and cancer. More recent studies implicate a strong link between response to VEGF and regulation of vascular metabolism. Understanding how this family of multitasking cytokines regulates cell and animal function has implications for treating many different diseases.
authors: Endothelial Cell Biology Unit, School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
authors: Gina A
authors: GA
authors: Smith
authors: Gareth W
authors: GW
authors: Fearnley
authors: Michael A
authors: MA
authors: Harrison
authors: Darren C
authors: DC
authors: Tomlinson
authors: Stephen B
authors: SB
authors: Wheatcroft
authors: Sreenivasan
authors: S
authors: Ponnambalam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004194:Disease; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor