TY - JOUR T1 - Hyperplasia of lymphatic vessels in VEGF-C transgenic mice JF - Science (80- ) Y1 - 1997 A1 - Jeltsch, M A1 - Kaipainen, A A1 - Joukov, V A1 - Meng, X A1 - Lakso, M A1 - Rauvala, H A1 - Swartz, M A1 - Fukumura, D A1 - Jain, R K A1 - Alitalo, K AB - No growth factors specific for the lymphatic vascular system have yet been described. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) regulates vascular permeability and angiogenesis, but does not promote lymphangiogenesis. Overexpression of VEGF-C, a ligand of the VEGF receptors VEGFR-3 and VEGFR-2, in the skin of transgenic mice resulted in lymphatic, but not vascular, endothelial proliferation and vessel enlargement. Thus, VEGF-C induces selective hyperplasia of the lymphatic vasculature, which is involved in the draining of interstitial fluid and in immune function, inflammation, and tumor metastasis. VEGF-C may play a role in disorders involving the lymphatic system and may be of potential use in therapeutic lymphangiogenesis. VL - 276 UR - http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9162011 IS - 5317 JO - Science ER -