VEGF121

Human Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor121 (VEGF121), a 18 kDa protein consisting of 121 amino acid residues is produced as a homodimer. VEGF is a polypeptide growth factor and a member of the platelet-derived growth factor family. It is a specific mitogen for vascular endothelial cells and a strong angiogenic factor in vivo. Two high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptors for VEGF121 have been identified, VEGFR-1 (FLT-1), and VEGFR-2 (KDR) . Consistent with the endothelial cell-specific action of VEGF121, expression of both receptor genes has been found predominantly but not exclusively on endothelial cells. Expression of VEGFR-1 was also found on human monocytes, neutrophils (PMNs), bovine brain pericytes and villous and extravillous trophoblasts. In addition to its action as a mitogen it is a potent vascular permeability factor (VPF) in vivo, and a chemoattractant molecule for monocytes and endothelial cells. Five different proteins are generated by differential splicing: VEGF121, VEGF145, VEGF165, VEGF189 and VEGF206. The most abundant form is VEGF165. Whereas VEGF121 and VEGF165 are secreted proteins, VEGF145, VEGF189 and VEGF206 are strongly cell-associated. The isoforms VEGF145, VEGF165 and VEGF189 bind to heparin with high affinity. VEGF121 is apparently a homo-dimer, but preparations of VEGF show some heterogeneity on SDS gels depending on the secretion of different forms and the varying degrees of glycosylation. All dimeric forms posses’ similar biological activities but the bioavailability is very different. There is good evidence that heterodimeric molecules between the different isoforms exist and that different cells and tissues express different VEGF isoforms. The other members of this increasing growth factor family are VEGF-B, -C, -D, -E and PlGF.