Advances in the molecular signaling mechanisms of VEGF/VEGFR2 in fundus neovascularization disease (Review).

Fundus neovascularization disease is a blinding eye disease, and represents an umbrella term for a group of disorders in which VEGF and its receptor VEGFR2 play important roles in promoting neovascularization. Compared with physiological angiogenesis, pathological angiogenesis involves several different regulatory mechanisms, vascular structures and functions, as well as microenvironmental effects. Although the role of VEGF and its receptor in angiogenesis is well documented, research on its major molecular signaling mechanisms is limited. In the present review, a basic overview of the VEGF and VEGFR2 pathways, including their downstream signaling mechanisms and the latest therapeutic advances in the context of fundus neovascularization disease, is provided, and the limitations and future perspectives of current anti-VEGF therapies are discussed. Overall, the purpose of the current review is to provide information on the molecular signaling mechanisms associated with VEGF and VEGFR2 and to perform an in-depth examination of these molecular signaling pathways and their interaction mechanisms. These interaction mechanisms are expected to facilitate the development of more targeted and long-lasting therapeutic regimens and provide novel concepts for the treatment of fundus neovascularization disease.