Description
Vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D), also known as C-fos induced growth factor (FIGF), belongs to the platelet-derived growth factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (PDGF/VEGF) family. FIGF protein is active in angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and endothelial cell growth. FIGF protein is secreted as a non-covelent homodimer in an antiparallel fashion. Human FIGF protein is expressed in adult lung, heart, muscle, and small intestine, and is most abundantly expressed in fetal lungs and skin. FIGF protein is structurally and functionally similar to VEGF-C. Therefore, FIGF protein binds and activates VEGFR-2 (Flk1) and VEGFR-3 (Flt4) receptors, and may particularly be involved in cancers, such as breast cancer, epithelial ovarian carcinoma and so on.