Cheung C Y
Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0802, USA.
J Soc Gynecol Investig. 1997 Jul-Aug;4(4):169-77.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelial cell mitogen with potent permeability properties. This growth factor exists in several isoforms; the most abundant form present in most tissues is VEGF165. The different isoforms exhibit differences in biologic function. During development, VEGF is expressed in multiple embryonic and fetal tissues, with the highest levels found in the lung, kidney, and heart. Vascular endothelial growth factor is also expressed in placental tissues and fetal membranes, and this expression increases with advancing gestation. In the fetal heart and placenta, VEGF expression is inducible by hypoxia. Two receptors, KDR and Flt-1, have been identified for VEGF. They are widely expressed in vascular endothelial cells and are also found in placental tissues where VEGF is localized. In humans, Flt-1 appears to be the predominant receptor, whereas in the cow and sheep, KDR is the major receptor expressed. The presence of VEGF and its receptors in placental tissues throughout gestation strongly suggests that VEGF plays an important role in the development and maintenance of placental vascular function during pregnancy. The localization of VEGF in fetal membranes and the fetal surface of the placenta raises the possibility that VEGF may be involved in the regulation of amniotic fluid volume and composition.
血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）是一种具有强大通透特性的内皮细胞有丝分裂原。这种生长因子存在多种异构体；大多数组织中最丰富的形式是VEGF165。不同的异构体在生物学功能上存在差异。在发育过程中，VEGF在多个胚胎和胎儿组织中表达，在肺、肾和心脏中含量最高。血管内皮生长因子也在胎盘组织和胎膜中表达，并且这种表达随着妊娠进展而增加。在胎儿心脏和胎盘中，VEGF表达可被缺氧诱导。已鉴定出VEGF的两种受体，即KDR和Flt-1。它们在血管内皮细胞中广泛表达，也存在于VEGF定位的胎盘组织中。在人类中，Flt-1似乎是主要受体，而在牛和羊中，KDR是表达的主要受体。整个妊娠期胎盘组织中VEGF及其受体的存在强烈表明VEGF在妊娠期间胎盘血管功能的发育和维持中起重要作用。VEGF在胎膜和胎盘胎儿表面的定位增加了VEGF可能参与羊水体积和成分调节的可能性。
