Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 183 (VEGF183)

VEGF183, a novel isoform of vascular endothelial growth factor. VEGF183 was expressed in Escherichia coli or in human 293 embryonic kidney cells and tested for stimulation of permeability of dermal vessels in normal rats as well as for mitogenic activity and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. While small amounts of VEGF183 were secreted into the conditioned media of 293 cells expressing VEGF183, most of the VEGF183 remained cell surface-bound and could be released into the CM following treatment with plasmin or heparin. CM from 293-VEGF183 cells treated with heparin or plasmin induced about a twofold increase in cell numbers and stimulated MAPK phosphorylation in HUVECs as compared with CM from untreated 293-VEGF183 cells or from heparin- or plasmin-treated 293 cells containing the vector alone.