Vascular endothelial growth factor B
Encyclopedia
Vascular endothelial growth factor B also known as VEGF-B is a protein
that, in humans, is encoded by the VEGF-B gene
. VEGF-B is a growth factor
that belongs to the vascular endothelial growth factor
family, of which VEGF-A is the best-known member.
s, such as during development or in pathological conditions, VEGF-B seems to play a role only in the maintenance of newly formed blood vessels during pathological conditions.
VEGF-B plays also an important role on several types of neurons. It is important for the protection of neurons in the retina
and the cerebral cortex
during stroke
and of motoneurons during motor neuron diseases
such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
.
VEGF-B exerts its effects via the FLT1
receptor.
with FLT1
.
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
that, in humans, is encoded by the VEGF-B gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
. VEGF-B is a growth factor
Growth factor
A growth factor is a naturally occurring substance capable of stimulating cellular growth, proliferation and cellular differentiation. Usually it is a protein or a steroid hormone. Growth factors are important for regulating a variety of cellular processes....
that belongs to the vascular endothelial growth factor
Vascular endothelial growth factor
Vascular endothelial growth factor is a signal protein produced by cells that stimulates vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. It is part of the system that restores the oxygen supply to tissues when blood circulation is inadequate....
family, of which VEGF-A is the best-known member.
Function
In contrast to VEGF-A, VEGF-B plays a less pronounced role in the vascular system: Whereas VEGF-A is important for the formation of blood vesselBlood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
s, such as during development or in pathological conditions, VEGF-B seems to play a role only in the maintenance of newly formed blood vessels during pathological conditions.
VEGF-B plays also an important role on several types of neurons. It is important for the protection of neurons in the retina
Retina
The vertebrate retina is a light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. The optics of the eye create an image of the visual world on the retina, which serves much the same function as the film in a camera. Light striking the retina initiates a cascade of chemical and electrical...
and the cerebral cortex
Cerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex is a sheet of neural tissue that is outermost to the cerebrum of the mammalian brain. It plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. It is constituted of up to six horizontal layers, each of which has a different...
during stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
and of motoneurons during motor neuron diseases
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
.
VEGF-B exerts its effects via the FLT1
FLT1
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FLT1 gene.-Interactions:FLT1 has been shown to interact with PLCG1 and Vascular endothelial growth factor B.-Further reading:...
receptor.
Interactions
Vascular endothelial growth factor B has been shown to interactProtein-protein interaction
Protein–protein interactions occur when two or more proteins bind together, often to carry out their biological function. Many of the most important molecular processes in the cell such as DNA replication are carried out by large molecular machines that are built from a large number of protein...
with FLT1
FLT1
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FLT1 gene.-Interactions:FLT1 has been shown to interact with PLCG1 and Vascular endothelial growth factor B.-Further reading:...
.