Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor: An Overview Across Multiple Disease Conditions

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is the major player in the regulation of physiological angiogenesis as well as it has also been implicated in pathological angiogenesis, associated with cancers and other conditions, among which psoriasis, autoimmune diseases and visual loss in macular degeneration. Interestingly, three regulatory Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (rSNPs) in the promoter region of VEGF-A gene have been significantly associated with different human diseases and it is possible that, in the near future, the cumulative effect of several high-risk Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) may prove useful in a clinical setting. Currently, new VEGF inhibitors are undergoing clinical testing in various disease conditions, given that VEGF inhibition has also been contemplated as a possible strategy for prevention of angiogenesis and vascular leakage to decrease inflammation. This review focuses mainly on the role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in several pathological contexts, highlighting the emerging association of the most common VEGF polymorphisms with disease risk. An update on the therapeutic implications of VEGF has also been documented.