Transgenic induction of vascular endothelial growth factor-C is strongly angiogenic in mouse embryos but leads to persistent lymphatic hyperplasia in adult tissues.

ABSTRACT: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is the quintessential lymphangiogenic growth factor that is required for the development of the lymphatic system and is capable of stimulating lymphangiogenesis in adults by activating its receptor, VEGFR-3. Although VEGF-C is a major candidate molecule for the development of prolymphangiogenic therapy for defective lymphatic vessels in lymphedema, the stability of lymph vessels generated by exogenous VEGF-C administration is not currently known. We studied VEGF-C-stimulated lymphangiogenesis in inducible transgenic mouse models in which growth factor expression can be spatially and temporally controlled without side effects, such as inflammation. VEGF-C induction in adult mouse skin for 1 to 2 weeks caused robust lymphatic hyperplasia that per

SUBMITTER: Lohela M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2626399 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature