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Query: EC:2.7.10.1 (ERK)
95,504 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a candidate regulator of blood vessel growth during embryonic development and in tumors. To evaluate the role of VEGF receptor-1/flt-1 (VEGFR1/flt-1) in the development of the vascular system, we have characterized the murine homolog of the human flt-1 gene and have analyzed its expression pattern during mouse embryogenesis. Receptor binding studies using transfected COS cells revealed that the murine flt-1 gene encodes a high affinity receptor for VEGF. The apparent Kd for VEGF binding, as determined by Scatchard analysis, was 114 pM, demonstrating that VEGFR1/flt-1 has a higher affinity to VEGF than VEGF receptor-2/flk-1 (VEGFR2/flk-1). By in situ hybridization, VEGFR1/flt-1 was detected in the yolk sac mesoderm already at the early stages of vascular development, while the receptor ligand was expressed in the entire endoderm of 7.5-day mouse embryos. A comparison with VEGFR2/flk-1 showed that the two receptors shared a common expression domain in the yolk sac mesoderm, but were expressed at different sites in the ectoplacental cone. The differential expression of the two VEGF receptors persisted in the developing placenta, where VEGFR1/flt-1 mRNA was detected in the spongiotrophoblast layer, whereas VEGFR2/flk-1 transcripts were present in the labyrinthine layer which is the site of VEGF expression. In the embryo proper, VEGFR1/flt-1 mRNA was specifically localized in blood vessels and capillaries of the developing organs, closely resembling the pattern of VEGFR2/flk-1 transcript distribution. In the developing brain, the expression of VEGF receptors in the perineural capillary plexus and in capillary sprouts which have invaded the neuro-ectoderm correlated with endothelial cell proliferation and brain angiogenesis. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that VEGF and its receptors have an important function both in the differentiation of the endothelial lineage and in the neovascularization of developing organs, and act in a paracrine fashion.
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PMID:Coordinate expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (flt-1) and its ligand suggests a paracrine regulation of murine vascular development. 857 16

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a heparin-binding growth factor known to act directly on vascular endothelial cells by promoting cell proliferation and permeability. To date, 3 structurally related cell surface receptors for VEGF, Flt-1, Flt-4 and KDR, have been identified and shown to be human type III receptor tyrosine kinases. The establishment of a vascular network is crucial to the development of the placenta and occurs through both angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. The signals controlling these processes are unclear. Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridisation techniques have localised VEGF in the trophoblast layers and VEGF binding to placental vascular endothelial cells and haemangioblasts has been shown, suggesting a role for VEGF and its receptors in development of the vascular network. In this study we have used specific antibodies to localise KDR and endothelial cells in 1st and 3rd trimester human placenta. The staining showed a colocalisation of KDR with endothelial cells and haemangioblasts. No staining of trophoblast cells was observed, but strong staining of the endothelial cells was seen in the villous stroma adjacent to areas of trophoblast proliferation.
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PMID:Expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, KDR, in human placenta. 862 35

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic factor, uses two receptor tyrosine kinases, FLK/KDR and FLT, to mediate its activities. We have cross-linked 125I-VEGF165 to the cell surface of various tumor cell lines and of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. High molecular mass (220 and 240 kDa) and/or lower molecular mass (165 and 175 kDa) labeled complexes were detected depending on the cell type. The 220- and 240-kDa labeled complexes were shown to contain FLT and FLK/KDR receptors, respectively. On the other hand, the 165- and 175-kDa complexes did not seem to contain FLK/KDR or FLT but instead appeared to contain novel VEGF receptors with relatively low molecular masses of approximately 120 and 130 kDa. These receptors were further characterized in breast cancer MDA MB 231 cells (231), which did not form the high molecular mass complexes and which did not express detectable amounts of flk/kdr or flt mRNA. The 231 cells displayed one VEGF165 binding site, with a Kd of 2.8 x 10(-10) M and 0.95 1.1 x 10(5) binding sites per cell. By comparison, human umbilical vein endothelial cells had two binding sites, one with a Kd of 7.5 x 10(-12) M, presumably FLK/KDR, and the other with a Kd of 2 x 10(-10) M, a value similar to the VEGF binding sites on 231 cells. These lower affinity/molecular mass receptors on 231 cells cross-linked 125I-VEGF165 but not 125I-VEGF121. Accordingly, exon 7 of VEGF, which encodes the 44 amino acids present in VEGF165 that are absent in VEGF121, was fused to glutathione S-transferase (GST). The GST-VEGF-exon 7 fusion protein bound to heparin-Sepharose with a similar affinity as VEGF165 and inhibited the binding of 125I-VEGF165 to 231 cells. Cross-linking of 125I-GST-VEGF-exon 7 to 231 cells resulted in the formation of 150- and 160-kDa labeled complexes that presumably contained the 120- and 130-kDa lower affinity/molecular mass VEGF165 receptors. It was concluded that certain tumor-derived cell lines express novel surface-associated receptors that selectively bind VEGF165 via the exon 7-encoded domain, which is absent in VEGF121.
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PMID:Characterization of novel vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors on tumor cells that bind VEGF165 via its exon 7-encoded domain. 862 43

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was identified as an endothelial cell specific mitogen that induces angiogenesis and vascular permeability in vivo. VEGF is a homodimeric protein which contains three intramolecular and two intermolecular disulfide bridges. Here, we report on an efficient procedure for recombinant production of VEGF isoforms VEGF121 and VEGF165 in Escherichia coli. The proteins were solubilized from inclusion bodies, refolded, and purified by chromatographic methods. The final protein products were almost completely in the dimeric conformation, bound to VEGF receptor FLT1 with a Kd of 30 pM, stimulated proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells half-maximally at a concentration of 30 pM, and induced in vivo neovascularization and vascular permeability on the chicken chorioallantoic membrane.
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PMID:Expression of biologically active isoforms of the tumor angiogenesis factor VEGF in Escherichia coli. 867 Jan 91

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent secreted angiogenic growth factor. Its action is mediated through the tyrosine kinase receptors flt and KDR. We here examine, in detail, the distribution of this ligand and its receptors in human placentae throughout gestation. In the first trimester, in-situ hybridization revealed uneven distribution of flt mRNA around the villous trophoblast indicating spatial regulation. Temporal regulation of flt was observed with no flt mRNA expression detected in villi from mid-gestational placenta, while low levels were found in term villi. Extravillous trophoblast was found to contain both mRNA encoding flt and flt-like immunoreactivity throughout pregnancy. In contrast, KDR mRNA was found only in association with endothelial cells. Within the decidua the anti-flt antibody stained multiple cell types during the first trimester of pregnancy but only the extravillous trophoblast later in gestation. VEGF immunoreactivity tended to co-localize with the staining for flt. These results indicate that VEGF may exert an important role within both the placental villi and the maternal decidua in relation to the growth, differentiation and migration of trophoblast and that this is mediated primarily through the spatial and temporal regulation of the flt receptor rather than the KDR receptor.
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PMID:Localization of VEGF and expression of its receptors flt and KDR in human placenta throughout pregnancy. 867 97

Angiogenesis is important in the pathophysiology of endometriosis, a condition characterized by implantation of ectopic endometrium in the peritoneal cavity. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor involved in physiological and pathological angiogenesis, and elevated levels of VEGF are found in peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis. Our aim was to investigate the site of expression and regulation of VEGF in endometriosis. VEGF immunoreactivity was found in tissue macrophages present in ectopic endometrium and in activated peritoneal fluid macrophages. Macrophage activation was highest in women with endometriosis, and media conditioned by peritoneal fluid macrophages from these women caused a VEGF-dependent increase in endothelial cell proliferation above that seen from normal women. Peritoneal fluid macrophages secreted VEGF in response to ovarian steroids, and this secretion was enhanced after activation with lipopolysaccharide. Peritoneal fluid macrophages expressed receptors for steroid hormones. VEGF receptors flt and KDR (kinase domain receptor) were also detected, suggesting autocrine regulation. During the menstrual cycle, expression of flt was constant but that of KDR was increased in the luteal phase, at which time the cells migrated in response to VEGF. KDR expression and the migratory response were significantly higher in patients with endometriosis. This study demonstrates that activated macrophages are a major source of VEGF in endometriosis and that this expression is regulated directly by ovarian steroids.
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PMID:Vascular endothelial growth factor is produced by peritoneal fluid macrophages in endometriosis and is regulated by ovarian steroids. 875 60

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic inducer that mediates its effects through two high affinity receptor tyrosine kinases, Flt-1 and KDR. Flt-1 is required for endothelial cell morphogenesis whereas KDR is involved primarily in mitogenesis. Flt-1 has an alternative ligand, placenta growth factor (PlGF). Both Flt-1 and KDR have seven immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains in the extracellular domain. The significance and function of these domains for ligand binding and receptor activation are unknown. Here we show that deletion of the second domain of Flt-1 completely abolishes the binding of VEGF. Introduction of the second domain of KDR into an Flt-1 mutant lacking the homologous domain restored VEGF binding. However, the ligand specificity was characteristic of the KDR receptor. We then created chimeric receptors where the first three or just the second Ig-like domains of Flt-1 replaced the corresponding domains in Flt-4, a receptor that does not bind VEGF, and analyzed their ability to bind VEGF. Both swaps conferred upon Flt-4 the ability to bind VEGF with an affinity nearly identical to that of wild-type Flt-1. Furthermore, transfected cells expressing these chimeric Flt-4 receptors exhibited increased DNA synthesis in response to VEGF or PlGF. These results demonstrate that a single Ig-like domain is the major determinant for VEGF-PlGF interaction and that binding to this domain may initiate a signal transduction cascade.
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PMID:The second immunoglobulin-like domain of the VEGF tyrosine kinase receptor Flt-1 determines ligand binding and may initiate a signal transduction cascade. 889 Jan 65

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a prime regulator of endothelial cell proliferation, angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and vascular permeability. Its activity is mediated by the high affinity tyrosine kinase receptors, KDR/Fik-1 and Fit-1. In this article, recently discovered structural, molecular and biological properties of VEGF are described. Among the topics discussed are VEGF and VEGF receptor structure and bioactivity, the regulation of VEGF expression, the role of VEGF and its receptors in vascular development, and the involvement of VEGF and its receptors in normal and pathological (ocular and tumor) angiogenesis.
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PMID:Vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors. 897 81

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which acts via members of a family of endothelial-specific receptor tyrosine kinases, is the only factor that has been shown definitively to play a role in the formation of the embryonic vasculature. Only one other family of receptor tyrosine kinases, comprising TIE1 and TIE2, is largely endothelial cell specific. We have recently cloned a ligand for TIE2, termed Angiopoietin-1. Here we show that mice engineered to lack Angiopoietin-1 display angiogenic deficits reminiscent of those previously seen in mice lacking TIE2, demonstrating that Angiopoietin-1 is a primary physiologic ligand for TIE2 and that it has critical in vivo angiogenic actions that are distinct from VEGF and that are not reflected in the classic in vitro assays used to characterize VEGF. Angiopoietin-1 seems to play a crucial role in mediating reciprocal interactions between the endothelium and surrounding matrix and mesenchyme.
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PMID:Requisite role of angiopoietin-1, a ligand for the TIE2 receptor, during embryonic angiogenesis. 898 Feb 21

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in angiogenesis, inflammation, and wound healing. It is secreted by a variety of tumor cell lines, including hematopoietic lines. Therefore, we investigated expression of VEGF and its receptors on fresh leukemic blasts. VEGF-specific transcripts were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 20 of 28 patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and in 3 of 5 patients with secondary AML. Using immunocytochemistry, we found VEGF protein in 2 leukemic cell lines and in 8 AML patients, in concordance with PCR results. Supernatants of fresh leukemic cells from 24 AML patients contained significantly more VEGF than supernatants from bone marrow cells of 9 normal donors or of CD34-enriched cells from 3 normal volunteer donors as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. VEGF possesses two high-affinity receptors, KDR and FLT1. Using a sensitive nested PCR assay, we detected expression of FLT1 in 10 of 20 patients with de novo AML and 3 of 5 patients with secondary AML. KDR was expressed in 4 of 22 patients with de novo AML and 1 of 4 with secondary AML. To study possible paracrine growth stimulation of AML blasts, endothelial cells from human umbilical cords were incubated with increasing concentrations of VEGF. A dose-dependent increase of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor secretion from endothelial cells was identified.
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PMID:Vascular endothelial growth factor, a possible paracrine growth factor in human acute myeloid leukemia. 905 6


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