Vascular endothelial growth factor.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in angiogenesis in development, in cancer and in other important diseases. VEGF regulates multiple endothelial cell functions including mitogenesis, permeability, vascular tone, and the production of vasoactive molecules. VEGF is related to several polypeptides which may have different and overlapping functions. The synthesis of VEGF is regulated by hypoxia-mediated control of gene transcription, alternative mRNA splicing and proteolytic processing. The diverse biological activities of VEGF are mediated through at least two receptor protein tyrosine kinases, KDR/Flk-1 and Flt-1. Because of VEGF's central importance for pathophysiological angiogenesis, the development of antagonists for VEGF in the treatment of cancer, and the use of VEGF therapeutically in cardiovascular diseases are now the focus of major research efforts.