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| VEGFB |
|---|
| Full Name | Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B |
| Chromosomal Location | 11q13.1 |
| NCBI Gene ID | [7422](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/7422) |
| OMIM | [611539](https://www.omim.org/entry/611539) |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000173511 |
| UniProt | [P49763](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P49763) |
| Associated Diseases | Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Diabetic Neuropathy, Ischemic Stroke |
VEGFB encodes Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B, a member of the VEGF family of growth factors. VEGFB primarily regulates vascular and lymphatic development, with specific roles in endothelial cell survival, metabolic functions, and fatty acid uptake. Unlike VEGFA, VEGFB has more specific tissue distribution and is particularly important in the heart, skeletal muscle, and nervous system. This page covers the gene's normal function, disease associations, expression patterns, and key research findings relevant to neurodegeneration.
VEGFB is a member of the VEGF family:
- Endothelial Cell Survival: Promotes survival of endothelial cells
- Metabolic Regulation: Regulates fatty acid uptake in endothelial cells
- Coronary Development: Essential for coronary vessel development
- Muscle Vascularization: Important for skeletal muscle blood supply
- Cerebral Blood Flow: Regulates cerebral microvasculature
- Blood-Brain Barrier: Maintains BBB integrity
- Neuroprotection: Direct neurotrophic effects on neurons
- Angiogenesis: Supports new blood vessel formation in the brain
VEGFB signals primarily through:
- VEGFR1 (FLT1): Primary receptor for VEGFB
- NRP1: Co-receptor enhancing VEGFB signaling
- Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans: Coreceptors on cell surface
VEGFB involvement in AD:
- Altered VEGFB expression in AD brain
- Neurovascular dysfunction in AD involves VEGFB
- VEGFB protects against Aβ-induced toxicity
- Promotes cerebral blood flow
- May enhance amyloid clearance
- VEGFB expression in substantia nigra
- Neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic neurons
- Supports cerebral blood flow
- May slow disease progression
- VEGFB improves peripheral nerve blood flow
- Promotes nerve regeneration
- Therapeutic potential in diabetic complications
- VEGFB promotes post-stroke angiogenesis
- Improves cerebral blood flow recovery
- Neuroprotective effects
VEGFB exhibits specific expression patterns:
- Heart: High expression in cardiac muscle
- Skeletal Muscle: Strong expression
- Brain: Moderate expression in neurons and glia
- Brown Adipose Tissue: Expression for metabolic function
- Endothelial Cells: Vascular expression
- Pancreas: Islet cell expression
Expression is regulated by:
- Hypoxia
- Metabolic signals
- Growth factors
- Inflammatory cytokines
VEGFB represents a therapeutic target for:
- Neurodegenerative disease modification
- Stroke recovery
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Cardiovascular diseases
Therapeutic strategies include:
- VEGFB agonists
- Gene therapy approaches
- VEGF-B pathway modulators
- VEGF-B in neuroprotection and metabolism (2020)
- VEGFB and Alzheimer's disease (2019)
- Vascular endothelial growth factor B in the nervous system (2021)
- VEGF-B and diabetic neuropathy (2018)