Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Biology, Regulation and Clinical Significance

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most potent and specific angiogenic factors. The physiologic roles of VEGF in humans include neovascularisation and endometrium implantation, and in pathological processes VEGF has been involved in the initiation, growth, and metastasis of tumors. In this book, the authors discuss the biology, regulation and clinical significance of VEGF. Topics include VEGF signalling and multi-drug resistance transporter (ABCB1); clinical imaging of tumour vascularity as a biomarker during anti-VEGF therapy; VEGF and kidney cancer; the effect of VEGF on oocyte maturation and embryo development of bovine and ovine in vitro and its mechanisms; physiological functions of VEGF in the retina; VEGF in the regulation of gingival venule diameter under physiological and pathological circumstances; regulation of VEGF expression by progesterone and estradiol in normal and cancer cells; ethanol stimulated angiogenesis via VEGF and protection from ischemia and reperfusion injury; and the role of VEGF in major depression.