VEGF-B taken to our hearts: specific effect of VEGF-B in myocardial ischemia.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-B (VEGF-B, see Olofsson et al1) is one of 5 mammalian VEGF family members, the others being VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and placental growth factor (PlGF). VEGF-B binds to 1 of the VEGF receptor tyrosine kinases, namely VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR1, Flt1), but not to VEGFR2 and VEGFR3. In addition, VEGF-A and placental growth factor (PlGF) bind to VEGFR1 with high affinity.2 The biology of most of the VEGF family of ligands and receptors has to a considerable extent been sorted out, greatly aided by in vivo analyses of transgenic mice. The remaining enigma has been the role of VEGF-B. In the current issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, Li and coworkers show that VEGF-B is uniquely required for myocardial angiogenesis.3 These elegant data make it highly interesting to use VEGF-B therapeutically for treatment of ischemic heart disease.