Pan Zhi-Guang, Mao Ying, Sun Feng-Yan
Department of Neurobiology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200041, China.
Sheng Li Xue Bao. 2017 Feb 25;69(1):96-108.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was originally recognized as a substance predominantly with vascular permeability and angiogenesis. Recently, more and more evidence indicated that VEGF is expressed in the neurons of the developing and adult brains. Functional investigation demonstrated that VEGF shows several important effects on the neuronal development and physiological function. For example, VEGF accelerates the development of neurons and neural dendritic and axon growth. Besides, VEGF directly and acutely regulates the functions of multiple ion channels of the neuron membrane and changes neural excitability. In traumatic or ischemic injured brains, VEGF produces neuroprotection, enhances capacity of adult neurogenesis and transformation of astroglial cells into new neurons, which are fundamental basis for re-establishment of neural network. Based on the knowledge obtained from the literatures, we propose that VEGF may play very important roles in neural plasticity in the normal brain, and the reconstruction of neurovascular units and neural repair in the traumatic injured brain. This review mainly focuses on neural activity and repair roles of VEGF in adult mammalian brains. Further study on the mechanism of VEGF's neurobiological effects in the brain will be helpful for understanding the regulation of brain functions and developing new therapeutic strategy for prevention of neurodegeneration of the brain.
血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）最初被认为是一种主要具有血管通透性和血管生成作用的物质。最近，越来越多的证据表明，VEGF在发育中和成年大脑的神经元中表达。功能研究表明，VEGF对神经元发育和生理功能具有多种重要作用。例如，VEGF可加速神经元的发育以及神经树突和轴突的生长。此外，VEGF直接且急性地调节神经元膜多种离子通道的功能并改变神经兴奋性。在创伤性或缺血性损伤的大脑中，VEGF发挥神经保护作用，增强成年神经发生能力以及星形胶质细胞向新神经元的转化，这是神经网络重建的基本基础。基于从文献中获得的知识，我们提出VEGF可能在正常大脑的神经可塑性以及创伤性损伤大脑的神经血管单元重建和神经修复中发挥非常重要的作用。本综述主要关注VEGF在成年哺乳动物大脑中的神经活动和修复作用。进一步研究VEGF在大脑中神经生物学效应的机制将有助于理解大脑功能的调节并开发预防大脑神经退行性变的新治疗策略。
