Vascular endothelial growth factor, a specific regulator of angiogenesis

Vascular endothelial growth factor is a diffusible endothelial cell-specific mitogen and angiogenic factor that can also increase vascular permeability. The vascular endothelial growth factor receptors are specifically expressed on the cell surface of vascular endothelial cells. Recent studies point to vascular endothelial growth factor as a major regulator of physiological angiogenesis, such as developmental and reproductive angiogenesis. In addition vascular endothelial growth factor appears to be a crucial mediator of blood vessel growth associated with tumors and proliferative retinopathies. Antivascular endothelial growth factor antibodies have the ability to suppress the growth of a variety of tumor cell lines in nude mice and can also inhibit angiogenesis in animal models of intra-ocular neovascularization. Furthermore vascular endothelial growth factor administration promotes collateral vessel growth and results in functional improvement in animal models of coronary or limb ischemia.