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VEGF ligands and receptors: implications in neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration

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An Erratum to this article was published on 05 April 2013

Abstract

Intensive research in the last decade shows that the prototypic angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can have direct effects in neurons and modulate processes such as neuronal migration, axon outgrowth, axon guidance and neuronal survival. Depending on the neuronal cell type and the process, VEGF seems to exert these effects by signaling via different receptors. It is also becoming clear that other VEGF ligands such as VEGF-B, -C and -D can act in various neuronal cell types as well. Moreover, apart from playing a role in physiological conditions, VEGF and VEGF-B have been related to different neurological disorders. We give an update on how VEGF controls different processes during neurodevelopment as well as on its role in several neurodegenerative disorders. We also discuss recent findings demonstrating that other VEGF ligands influence processes such as neurogenesis and dendrite arborization and participate in neurodegeneration.

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Acknowledgments

The work of P.C. is supported by long-term structural funding (Methusalem funding from the Flemish Government). The work of C.R.A. is supported by a Marie Curie Career integration grant (FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG-304050), by the BZH (University of Heidelberg) and by the European Research Council (ERC-StG-2012; 311367).

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  1. Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular Link, Vesalius Research Center, K.U.Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Peter Carmeliet

  2. Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular Link, Vesalius Research Center, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Peter Carmeliet

  3. Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Carmen Ruiz de Almodovar

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Correspondence to Carmen Ruiz de Almodovar.

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Carmeliet, P., de Almodovar, C.R. VEGF ligands and receptors: implications in neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 70, 1763–1778 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-013-1283-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-013-1283-7

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