VEGF-A ELISA

Formerly sold as BE55101. Understanding the formation of blood vessels has become the focus of a major research effort throughout the last decade. Angiogenesis is the process of new blood vessel formation from pre-existing vasculatures. It plays an essential role in development, normal tissue growth, wound healing, the female reproductive cycle (placental development, ovulation, corpus luteum) and also plays a major role in various diseases. Special interest is focused on tumor growth, since tumors cannot grow more than a few millimeters in size without developing a new blood supply. One of the key molecules for angiogenesis and for the survival of the endothelium is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A). During the past few years, several other members of the VEGF family have been cloned, including VEGF-B, -C- and -D. In terms of vascular angiogenesis, which mainly is regulated by VEGF-A, lymphangiogenesis is mainly regulated by VEGF-C and -D. VEGF-A can be detected in both plasma and serum samples of patients, with much higher levels in serum. Extremely high levels can be detected in the cystic brain fluid of brain tumor patients or in ascites fluid of patients. Platelets release VEGF-A upon aggregation and may be another major source of VEGF-A delivery to tumors. Several other studies have shown that association of high serum levels of VEGF-A with poor prognosis in cancer patients may be correlated with an elevated platelet count. Furthermore, VEGF-A is implicated in several other pathological conditions associated with enhanced angiogenesis or enhanced vascular permeability. Examples where VEGF-A plays an important role are psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis (15), as well as the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Diabetic retinopathy is associated with high intraocular levels of VEGF-A, and inhibition of VEGF-A function may result in infertility by blockage of corpus luteum function. Direct demonstration of the importance of VEGF-A in tumor growth has been achieved using dominant negative VEGF receptors to block in vivo proliferation, as well as blocking antibodies to VEGF or to one of the VEGF receptors. Synonyms: Vascular endothelial growth factor A, Vascular permeability factor, VPF