VEGF-B: a survival, or an angiogenic factor?

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-B (VEGF-B) has a high sequence homology to other VEGF family members but its function remained unclear.
• VEGF-B has historically received limited research attention despite its early discovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the primary biological function of VEGF-B.
• To investigate the therapeutic potential of VEGF-B in vascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

Main Methods:

• Investigated VEGF-B's role in cell survival by examining apoptosis-related gene expression.
• Assessed VEGF-B's angiogenic activity in various organs and its effect on pathological angiogenesis in animal models.
• Evaluated VEGF-B's neuroprotective effects in neuro-injury and neurodegenerative disease models.

Main Results:

• VEGF-B functions as a potent cell survival factor by inhibiting apoptosis through suppression of apoptotic genes.
• VEGF-B plays a minimal role in inducing blood vessel growth but is crucial for blood vessel survival.
• Targeting VEGF-B inhibited pathological angiogenesis by compromising blood vessel survival.
• VEGF-B treatment protected neurons from apoptosis in disease models without causing adverse angiogenesis or permeability.

Conclusions:

• VEGF-B is a unique member of the VEGF family with potent anti-apoptotic and survival effects, distinct from general angiogenic activity.
• The primary function of VEGF-B is as a survival factor, not an angiogenic factor.
• VEGF-B holds significant therapeutic promise for treating vascular and neurodegenerative diseases.