VEGFA-VEGFR2 Pathway

VEGFA-VEGFR2 Pathway Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting vasculature. One of the most important proangiogenic factors is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF exerts its biologic effect through interaction with transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors VEGFR, selectively expressed on vascular endothelial cells. VEGFA signaling through VEGFR2 is the major pathway that activates angiogenesis by inducing the proliferation, survival, sprouting and migration of endothelial cells (ECs), and also by increasing endothelial permeability (Lohela et al. 2009, Shibuya & Claesson-Welsh 2006, Claesson-Welsh & Welsh, 2013). The critical role of VEGFR2 in vascular development is highlighted by the fact that VEGFR2-/- mice die at E8.5-9.5 due to defective development of blood islands, endothelial cells and haematopoietic cells (Shalaby et al. 1995).