VEGF-A, Blocking Antibody

Mouse VEGF (or VEGF-A) is a potent growth and angiogenic cytokine. It stimulates proliferation and survival of endothelial cells, and promotes angiogenesis and vascular permeability. Expressed in vascularized tissues, VEGF plays a prominent role in normal and pathological angiogenesis. Substantial evidence implicates VEGF in the induction of tumor metastasis and intra-ocular neovascular syndromes. VEGF signals through the three receptors; fms-like tyrosine kinase (flt-1), KDR gene product (the murine homolog of KDR is the flk-1 gene product) and the flt4 gene product. Recombinant murine VEGF (isoform 164) is a 39.0 kDa disulfide-linked homodimeric protein consisting of two 164 amino acid polypeptide chains. The antibody blocks the binding of VEGF to VEGFR-2 (mouse FLK) and therefore the initiation of signal transduction.