The most important member is VEGF-A. Other members are Placenta growth factor (PlGF), VEGF-B, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. The latter ones were discovered later than VEGF-A, and, before their discovery, VEGF-A was called just VEGF.
A number of VEGF-related proteins have also been discovered encoded by viruses (VEGF-E) and in the venom of some snakes (VEGF-F).
Comparison | Type | Function |
|---|
| VEGF-A | - Angiogenesis
- ↑ Migration of endothelial cells
- ↑ mitosis of endothelial cells
- ↑ Methane monooxygenase activity
- ↑ αvβ3 activity
- creation of blood vessel lumen
- creates fenestrations
- Chemotactic for macrophages and granulocytes
- Vasodilation (indirectly by NO release)
|
|---|
| VEGF-B | Embryonic angiogenesis |
|---|
| VEGF-C | Lymphangiogenesis |
|---|
| VEGF-D | Needed for the development of lymphatic vasculature surrounding lung bronchioles |
|---|
| PlGF | Important for Vasculogenesis, Also needed for angiogenesis during ischemia, inflammation, wound healing, and cancer. |
|---|
|
Activity of VEGF-A, as its name implies, has been studied mostly on cells of the vascular endothelium, although it does have effects on a number of other cell types (e.g., stimulation monocyte/macrophage migration, neurons, cancer cells, kidney epithelial cells). ''In vitro'', VEGF-A has been shown to stimulate endothelial cell mitogenesis and cell migration. VEGF-A is also a vasodilator and increases microvascular permeability and was originally referred to as vascular permeability factor.
Further Reading
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"Vascular endothelial growth factor"
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