Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)
Quick Facts
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A |
| Abbreviation | VEGF or VEGF-A |
| Molecule Type | Recombinant Growth Factor |
| Family | VEGF Family |
| Molecular Weight | ~38-45 kDa (Homodimer, isoform dependent) |
| Primary Receptor | VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1) |
| Typical Working Concentration | 10-100 ng/mL |
| Common Stock Concentration | 10-100 μg/mL |
Overview
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic growth factor that regulates the proliferation, migration, survival, and permeability of vascular endothelial cells. It is the principal signaling molecule responsible for blood vessel formation during embryonic development, tissue repair, and physiological angiogenesis.
In cell culture, VEGF is widely used to support endothelial cell culture, vascular organoids, stem cell differentiation, and angiogenesis research. It is also an essential component of many vascularization and tissue engineering protocols.
Biological Function
VEGF regulates several biological processes, including:
- Promotes endothelial cell proliferation
- Stimulates angiogenesis
- Enhances endothelial cell survival
- Increases vascular permeability
- Supports blood vessel maturation
- Promotes cell migration
- Facilitates tissue repair
Mechanism of Action
VEGF primarily binds to VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1) on endothelial cells.
Receptor activation induces dimerization and autophosphorylation, triggering multiple intracellular signaling pathways, including:
- PI3K-AKT pathway
- MAPK/ERK pathway
- PLCγ pathway
- Src family kinase pathways
These signaling cascades regulate endothelial proliferation, migration, survival, and vascular network formation.
Common Applications
VEGF is widely used for:
- Endothelial cell culture
- Angiogenesis assays
- Vascular organoid culture
- Stem cell differentiation
- Tissue engineering
- Regenerative medicine
- Cancer biology
- Wound healing research
- Ischemia and vascular disease models
Cell Types Commonly Supplemented with VEGF
| Cell Type | Typical Application |
|---|---|
| Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) | Routine culture |
| Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMVECs) | Expansion |
| Endothelial Progenitor Cells | Differentiation |
| Human iPSCs | Endothelial differentiation |
| Human ESCs | Vascular lineage differentiation |
| Vascular Organoids | Growth and maturation |
| Brain Organoids | Vascularization protocols |
| Mesenchymal Stem Cells | Angiogenesis studies |
VEGF supplementation should be optimized according to the culture system and experimental objective.
Typical Working Concentrations
| Application | Typical Concentration |
|---|---|
| Endothelial Cell Culture | 10-50 ng/mL |
| Stem Cell Differentiation | 25-50 ng/mL |
| Vascular Organoids | 50-100 ng/mL |
| Angiogenesis Assays | 10-100 ng/mL |
Advantages
- Potent inducer of angiogenesis
- Supports endothelial cell survival and proliferation
- Essential for vascular differentiation protocols
- Widely used in regenerative medicine
- Well-characterized signaling pathway
- Compatible with most serum-free endothelial media
Limitations
- Activity depends on VEGF receptor expression
- Sensitive to repeated freeze-thaw cycles
- Relatively expensive
- High concentrations may alter vascular permeability
- Commonly requires combination with additional growth factors
Related Growth Factors
Frequently combined with:
- Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF-2)
- Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF)
- Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)
- Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)
- Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)
- Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β)
See Also
- Growth Factor Handling and Storage Guide
- Endothelial Cell Culture
- Vascular Organoid Culture
- Stem Cell Differentiation
- Angiogenesis Assays
- VEGF Signaling
Key Takeaways
- VEGF is the principal growth factor regulating angiogenesis and endothelial cell biology.
- It primarily signals through VEGFR-2, activating PI3K-AKT, MAPK/ERK, PLCγ, and Src kinase pathways.
- VEGF is widely used for endothelial cell culture, vascular organoids, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
- It is an essential component of many vascular differentiation and organoid protocols.
- Typical working concentrations range from 10-100 ng/mL, depending on the application.
References
- Ferrara N, Gerber HP, LeCouter J. Nature Medicine (2003).
- Ferrara N. Endocrine Reviews (2004).
- Freshney RI. Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique and Specialized Applications.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific. Recombinant Human VEGF Product Information.
- PeproTech. Recombinant Human VEGF Product Datasheet.