Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 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 mouse homolog of KDR is the flk-1 gene product) and the flt4 gene product.
