Vegfc

Developmental stage

Increases moderately during pregnancy (2.8-fold increase on day 4) and lactation (1.9-fold increase on day 2).

Function

Growth factor active in angiogenesis, and endothelial cell growth, stimulating their proliferation and migration and also has effects on the permeability of blood vessels. May function in angiogenesis of the venous and lymphatic vascular systems during embryogenesis, and also in the maintenance of differentiated lymphatic endothelium in adults. Binds and activates KDR/VEGFR2 and FLT4/VEGFR3 receptors.

Post-translational modifications

Undergoes a complex proteolytic maturation which generates a variety of processed secreted forms with increased activity toward VEGFR-3, but only the fully processed form could activate VEGFR-2. VEGF-C first form an antiparallel homodimer linked by disulfide bonds. Before secretion, a cleavage occurs between Arg-223 and Ser-224 producing a heterotetramer. The next extracellular step of the processing removes the N-terminal propeptide. Finally the mature VEGF-C is composed mostly of two VEGF homology domains (VHDs) bound by non-covalent interactions (By similarity).

Sequence Similarities

Belongs to the PDGF/VEGF growth factor family.

Tissue Specificity

Highly expressed in the lung, ovary, preputial gland and the adrenal gland. Expressed in the post-pubertal mammary glands.

Cellular localization

• Secreted

Alternative names

Vascular endothelial growth factor C, VEGF-C, Flt4 ligand, Vascular endothelial growth factor-related protein, Flt4-L, VRP, Vegfc

Database links

swissprot:O35757 entrezGene:114111

Other research areas

• Neuroscience