Extracellular regulation of VEGF: isoforms, proteolysis, and vascular patterning.

ABSTRACT: The regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) is critical to neovascularization in numerous tissues under physiological and pathological conditions. VEGF has multiple isoforms, created by alternative splicing or proteolytic cleavage, and characterized by different receptor-binding and matrix-binding properties. These isoforms are known to give rise to a spectrum of angiogenesis patterns marked by differences in branching, which has functional implications for tissues. In this review, we detail the extensive extracellular regulation of VEGF and the ability of VEGF to dictate the vascular phenotype. We explore the role of VEGF-releasing proteases and soluble carrier molecules on VEGF activity. While proteases such as MMP9 can 'release' matrix-bound VEGF and promote angiogenes

SUBMITTER: Vempati P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3977708 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature