Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in health and disease: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic perspectives
Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is a critical regulator of vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis, processes that are vital for the development of vascular and lymphatic systems, tissue repair, and the maintenance of homeostasis. VEGF ligands and their recep...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Publishing Group
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02249-0 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849327805844684800 |
|---|---|
| author | Chunsik Lee Myung-Jin Kim Anil Kumar Han-Woong Lee Yunlong Yang Yonghwan Kim |
| author_facet | Chunsik Lee Myung-Jin Kim Anil Kumar Han-Woong Lee Yunlong Yang Yonghwan Kim |
| author_sort | Chunsik Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is a critical regulator of vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis, processes that are vital for the development of vascular and lymphatic systems, tissue repair, and the maintenance of homeostasis. VEGF ligands and their receptors orchestrate endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and survival, playing a pivotal role in dynamic vascular remodeling. Dysregulated VEGF signaling drives diverse pathological conditions, including tumor angiogenesis, cardiovascular diseases, and ocular disorders. Excessive VEGF activity promotes tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, while insufficient signaling contributes to impaired wound healing and ischemic diseases. VEGF-targeted therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have revolutionized the treatment of diseases involving pathological angiogenesis, offering significant clinical benefits in oncology and ophthalmology. These therapies inhibit angiogenesis and slow disease progression, but they often face challenges such as therapeutic resistance, suboptimal efficacy, and adverse effects. To further explore these issues, this review provides a comprehensive overview of VEGF ligands and receptors, elucidating their molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks. It evaluates the latest progress in VEGF-targeted therapies and examines strategies to address current challenges, such as resistance mechanisms. Moreover, the discussion includes emerging therapeutic strategies such as innovative drug delivery systems and combination therapies, highlighting the continuous efforts to improve the effectiveness and safety of VEGF-targeted treatments. This review highlights the translational potential of recent discoveries in VEGF biology for improving patient outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a67c1e3a25b4095a88c24f4082b3b7a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2059-3635 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-3a67c1e3a25b4095a88c24f4082b3b7a2025-08-20T03:47:45ZengNature Publishing GroupSignal Transduction and Targeted Therapy2059-36352025-05-0110114010.1038/s41392-025-02249-0Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in health and disease: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic perspectivesChunsik Lee0Myung-Jin Kim1Anil Kumar2Han-Woong Lee3Yunlong Yang4Yonghwan Kim5Department of R&D, GEMCRO IncDepartment of Biological Sciences and Research Institute of Women’s Health, Sookmyung Women’s UniversityCenter for Research and Innovations, Adichunchanagiri UniversityDepartment of R&D, GEMCRO IncDepartment of Cellular and Genetic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences and Research Institute of Women’s Health, Sookmyung Women’s UniversityAbstract Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is a critical regulator of vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis, processes that are vital for the development of vascular and lymphatic systems, tissue repair, and the maintenance of homeostasis. VEGF ligands and their receptors orchestrate endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and survival, playing a pivotal role in dynamic vascular remodeling. Dysregulated VEGF signaling drives diverse pathological conditions, including tumor angiogenesis, cardiovascular diseases, and ocular disorders. Excessive VEGF activity promotes tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, while insufficient signaling contributes to impaired wound healing and ischemic diseases. VEGF-targeted therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have revolutionized the treatment of diseases involving pathological angiogenesis, offering significant clinical benefits in oncology and ophthalmology. These therapies inhibit angiogenesis and slow disease progression, but they often face challenges such as therapeutic resistance, suboptimal efficacy, and adverse effects. To further explore these issues, this review provides a comprehensive overview of VEGF ligands and receptors, elucidating their molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks. It evaluates the latest progress in VEGF-targeted therapies and examines strategies to address current challenges, such as resistance mechanisms. Moreover, the discussion includes emerging therapeutic strategies such as innovative drug delivery systems and combination therapies, highlighting the continuous efforts to improve the effectiveness and safety of VEGF-targeted treatments. This review highlights the translational potential of recent discoveries in VEGF biology for improving patient outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02249-0 |
| spellingShingle | Chunsik Lee Myung-Jin Kim Anil Kumar Han-Woong Lee Yunlong Yang Yonghwan Kim Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in health and disease: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic perspectives Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy |
| title | Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in health and disease: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic perspectives |
| title_full | Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in health and disease: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in health and disease: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in health and disease: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic perspectives |
| title_short | Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in health and disease: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic perspectives |
| title_sort | vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in health and disease from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic perspectives |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02249-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chunsiklee vascularendothelialgrowthfactorsignalinginhealthanddiseasefrommolecularmechanismstotherapeuticperspectives AT myungjinkim vascularendothelialgrowthfactorsignalinginhealthanddiseasefrommolecularmechanismstotherapeuticperspectives AT anilkumar vascularendothelialgrowthfactorsignalinginhealthanddiseasefrommolecularmechanismstotherapeuticperspectives AT hanwoonglee vascularendothelialgrowthfactorsignalinginhealthanddiseasefrommolecularmechanismstotherapeuticperspectives AT yunlongyang vascularendothelialgrowthfactorsignalinginhealthanddiseasefrommolecularmechanismstotherapeuticperspectives AT yonghwankim vascularendothelialgrowthfactorsignalinginhealthanddiseasefrommolecularmechanismstotherapeuticperspectives |