VEGFA

VEGFA (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A) is a member of the PDGF / VEGF growth factor family. It encodes a heparin-binding protein that exists as a disulfide-linked homodimer. This growth factor plays a role in angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and endothelial cell growth, and can induces endothelial cell proliferation, promotes cell migration, inhibits apoptosis and induces vascular permeability, both of which are essential for physiological and pathological angiogenesis. The disruption of this gene in mice leads to abnormal embryonic vascularization. This gene is upregulated in many known tumors, whose expression is correlated with tumor stage and progression. Its related pathways are response to platelet cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ and cell adhesion-plasmin signaling.