VEGF-C

VEGF-C, a member of the VEGF/PDGF family of structurally related proteins, is a potent angiogenic cytokine. It promotes endothelial cell growth, promotes lymphangiogesis, and can also affect vascular permeability. VEGF-C is expressed in various tissues, but is not produced in peripheral blood lymphocytes. It forms cell surfaced-associated non-covalent disulfide linked homodimers, and can bind and activate both VEGFR-2 (flk1) and VEGFR-3 (flt4) receptors. During embryogenesis, VEGF-C may play a role in the formation of the venous and lymphatic vascular systems. Both VEGF-C and VEGF-D are over-expressed in certain cancers, and the resulting elevated levels of VEGF-C or VEGF-D tend to correlate with increased lymphatic metastasis. Recombinant, fully processed human VEGF-C is a 13.5 kDa non-disulfide linked homodimeric protein consisting of two 116 amino acid polypeptide chains. Due to glycosylation the protein migrates as a 20.0-22.0 kDa band under non-reducing condition.