Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Its Receptor (VEGFR) in Angiogenesis
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2025 | Viewed by 62
Special Issue Editors
Interests: diabetic retinopathy; angiogenesis; VEGF/VEGFR system; ocular tumors; FGR/FGFR system
Interests: animal models; ocular diseases; retinal function; neurodegeneration; neuroprotection; anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory compounds; dietary supplementation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) family includes several members (i.e., VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and Placental Growth Factor) involved in promoting angiogenesis. By binding to VEGF receptors (VEGFRs), VEGF activates several intracellular mediators such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), phospholipase Cg (PLCg), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase Src. Consequently, the VEGF/VEGFR system stimulates proliferation, migration, and survival in endothelial cells.
Angiogenesis is a finely regulated process, and it typically occurs in physiological settings such as embryonic development and organ lining, as well as during the menstrual cycle, muscle growth, and tissue repair. However, aberrant neovascularization may arise due to pathological mechanisms that trigger an imbalance between anti-angiogenic and pro-angiogenic stimuli, including the over-activation of the VEGF/VEGFR system. Thus, angiogenesis is involved in several non-neoplastic conditions such as retinopahties, age-related macular degeneration, autoimmune diseases, and arterosclerosis. Moreover, angiogenesis strongly contributes to tumor progression and metastatic dissemination. Therefore, anti-angiogenic strategies targeting the VEGF/VEGR family could provide valid therapeutic options in a wide-range of pathological conditions.
In this frame, this Special Issue will collect both original works and reviews aimed at clarifying the mechanisms involved in the regulation and dysregulation of the VEGF/VEGFR signaling axis, and we will explore novel anti-angiogenic strategies directed against VEGF/VEGFR.
Dr. Alessandra Loda
Prof. Dr. Paola Bagnoli
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
- VEGF receptors (VEGFRs)
- angiogenesis
- endothelial cells
- anti-angiogenic therapies
- VEGFR inhibitors
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