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Growing and shaping the vascular tree: multiple roles for VEGF
Author(s) -
Ruhrberg Christiana
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.10351
Subject(s) - vascular endothelial growth factor , gene isoform , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular matrix , biology , vascular endothelial growth factor b , vascular endothelial growth factor a , angiogenesis , receptor , vascular permeability , growth factor , vascular endothelial growth factor c , vascular tissue , vegf receptors , cancer research , biochemistry , endocrinology , gene , botany
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is the most potent and ubiquitous vascular growth factor known to date. Yet, prior to its description as a secreted mitogen for endothelial cells, it was identified as a vascular permeability factor. These seemingly disparate avenues of discovery highlight VEGF's ability to control many distinct aspects of endothelial cell behaviour, including proliferation, migration, specialisation and survival. The versatility of VEGF as a patterning molecule is likely linked to its association with various signalling receptor complexes, but also its expression in several isoforms with a differential affinity for heparan sulfate proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix. In contrast to the absolute requirement for all known VEGF receptors, the presence of only a single VEGF isoform is sufficient for vascular development. However, the isoforms serve as exquisite tools for the fine patterning of growing vessel networks during embryogenesis and in postnatal life. BioEssays 25:1052–1060, 2003. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.