Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelial cell-specific mitogen in vitro and an angiogenic inducer in a variety of in vivo models. Hypoxia has been shown to be a major inducer of VEGF gene transcription. The tyrosine kinases Flt-1 (VEGFR-1) and Flk-1/KDR (VEGFR-2) are high-affinity VEGF receptors. The role of VEGF in developmental angiogenesis is emphasized by the finding that loss of a single VEGF allele results in defective vascularization and early embryonic lethality. VEGF is critical also for reproductive and bone angiogenesis. Substantial evidence also implicates VEGF as a mediator of pathological angiogenesis. In situ hybridization studies demonstrate expression of VEGF mRNA in the majority of human tumors. Anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies and other VEGF inhibitors block the growth of several tumor cell lines in nude mice. Clinical trials with various VEGF inhibitors in a variety of malignancies are ongoing. Very recently, an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab; Avastin) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with chemotherapy. Furthermore, VEGF is implicated in intraocular neovascularization associated with diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.

中文翻译：

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血管内皮生长因子：基础科学和临床进展。

血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）是体外的内皮细胞特异性促分裂原，在多种体内模型中均是血管生成诱导剂。缺氧已被证明是VEGF基因转录的主要诱因。酪氨酸激酶Flt-1（VEGFR-1）和Flk-1 / KDR（VEGFR-2）是高亲和力VEGF受体。通过发现单个VEGF等位基因的缺失会导致有缺陷的血管生成和早期胚胎致死率，从而强调了VEGF在发育性血管生成中的作用。VEGF对于生殖和骨骼血管生成也至关重要。大量证据还暗示VEGF是病理性血管生成的介质。原位杂交研究表明VEGF mRNA在大多数人类肿瘤中表达。抗VEGF单克隆抗体和其他VEGF抑制剂可阻止裸鼠中几种肿瘤细胞系的生长。各种VEGF抑制剂在各种恶性肿瘤中的临床试验正在进行中。最近，抗VEGF单克隆抗体（贝伐单抗； Avastin）已被美国食品药品管理局批准为转移性结直肠癌联合化疗的一线治疗药物。此外，VEGF涉及与糖尿病性视网膜病和年龄相关性黄斑变性相关的眼内新血管形成。