Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/Vascular Permeability Factor Augments Nitric Oxide Release From Quiescent Rabbit and Human Vascular Endothelium

Abstract

VEGF/VPF stimulates production of NO from rabbit and human ECs. This finding (1) constitutes inferential evidence for the presence of functional VEGF/VPF receptors on quiescent endothelium of the adult rabbit as well as human ECs and (2) supports the notion that putative maintenance functions of VEGF/VPF may include regulation of baseline synthesis and/or release of EC NO.

The Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Wound Healing

“…It binds to the KDR receptor, stimulating nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase activities 65 . NO and prostacyclin promote simultaneous vasodilation and vascular permeability 66,67 . Vasodilation and accompanying stretch may also increase endothelial sensitivity to growth factors 64 , as well as induce further VEGF expression in a positive feedback loop 68 .…”

VEGF Receptor Signaling and Endothelial Function

“…VEGF-A and VEGF-E stimulates endothelial production of NO and prostacyclin (57,74,(89)(90)(91)(92)(93). In turn, these intracellular mediators have been implicated in mediating diverse biological effects of VEGF including angiogenesis and vascular permeability (94).…”

Alterations in angiogenic growth factors and neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in chronic cavernosal ischemia

“…11 VEGF has been shown to stimulate nitric oxide production in endothelial cells, and nitric oxide was found to mediate VEGF-induced permeability. 12 These effects were mediated by NOS, an enzyme with an essential role in penile erection. 13 VEGF binds to two high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptors, the 180 kDa fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt-1) and the 200 kDa kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) and its murine homologue, Flk-1.…”