Background
Vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) is a member of the platelet-derived growth factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (PDGF/VEGF) family. It is highly expressed in lung, heart, small intestine and fetal lung, and at lower levels in skeletal muscle, colon, and pancreas. VEGF-D is growth factor active in angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and endothelial cell growth, stimulating their proliferation and migration and also has effects on the permeability of blood vessels. It may function in the formation of the venous and lymphatic vascular systems during embryogenesis, and also in the maintenance of differentiated lymphatic endothelium in adults. It undergoes a complex proteolytic maturation, generating multiple processed forms that bind and activate VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 receptors.
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