The VEGF pathway involves several key components: VEGF ligands, VEGF receptors, and downstream signaling molecules. The most studied VEGF ligands include VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D, with VEGF-A playing a predominant role in angiogenesis. These ligands bind to VEGF receptors (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3) on the surface of endothelial cells. VEGFR-2 is primarily responsible for mediating angiogenic signals. Once activated, these receptors initiate a cascade of intracellular signaling through pathways such as PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK, leading to cellular responses that promote angiogenesis.
