Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the main driving force for angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Identified as a vascular endothelial cell mitogen and survival factor, it has been sequenced and cloned by Ferrara and Connolly in 1989 [74, 84]. Intense research over the past years has deciphered the gene, molecular pathways, receptors and functions of this angiogenic factor [35]. VEGF is thought to play an important role in liver regeneration, hepatic fibrogenesis, portal hypertension, hepatocarcinogenesis and malignant ascites formation.