Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is pivotal for blood vessel formation and haematopoiesis, but its effect on stem cells has remained unclear. In 27 June
Gerber
They also observed that only VEGF inhibitors acting intracellularly mimicked the deletion of the VEGF gene; blocking VEGF by extracellular mechanisms had only minor effects. Ligands selective for VEGF and VEGFR-2 and also a VEGF receptor agonist could rescue survival and repopulation of VEGF-deficient HSCs.
"The discovery of an autocrine loop formed by...