VEGF121 is More Tumorigenic than Other Variants
Author Information
Author(s): Zhang H-T, Scott P A E, Morbidelli L, Peak S, Moore J, Turley H, Harris A L, Ziche M, Bicknell R
Primary Institution: Molecular Angiogenesis Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
Hypothesis
The 121 amino acid isoform of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is more tumorigenic than other splice variants in vivo.
Conclusion
The VEGF121 isoform is both more angiogenic and tumorigenic than the 165 and 189 isoforms.
Supporting Evidence
- VEGF121 transfectant showed much greater angiogenic activity than VEGF165 or VEGF189.
- VEGF121-expressing MCF-7 cells were more tumorigenic than control transfectants.
- VEGF189 was found in the nucleus, unlike VEGF121 and VEGF165.
Takeaway
There are different versions of a protein called VEGF, and the one with 121 amino acids helps tumors grow more than the others.
Methodology
MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells were stably transfected to express different VEGF isoforms, and their angiogenic activity was assessed using rabbit corneal angiogenesis assays.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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