Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), Vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B), and Placental growth factor (PlGF) (VEGF-A, VEGF-B, PlGF)

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), Vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B), and Placental growth factor (PlGF) are a group of secreted glycoproteins that serve as critical regulators of angiogenesis and vascular homeostasis. VEGF-A is the most potent member, driving the formation of new blood vessels and increasing vascular permeability by binding to the tyrosine kinase receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. VEGF-B and PlGF specifically bind to VEGFR-1 and play specialized roles in pathological angiogenesis, tissue ischemia, and inflammatory responses. These factors are frequently upregulated in solid tumors and exudative retinal diseases, where they promote abnormal vessel growth and fluid leakage. Therapeutic agents such as aflibercept act as soluble decoy receptors, or VEGF traps, that sequester all three ligands to prevent their interaction with endogenous receptors. This multi-target inhibition is highly effective in treating conditions like neovascular age-related macular degeneration and metastatic colorectal cancer, though it carries risks of systemic side effects such as hypertension and impaired wound healing.

Other names

Vascular permeability factor (VPF)PGFPGFLPlacenta growth factorVEGF-AVEGF-BPlGF

Soluble decoy receptor (VEGF trap) that binds and neutralizes VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and PlGF, preventing their interaction with VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2.