Vascular endothelial growth factor in cerebral ischemia.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in many central nervous system disorders, including stroke, and confers neuroprotection in cerebral ischemia. In this Mini-Review, we examine in detail the in vitro and in vivo evidence for the role of VEGF in cerebral ischemia. VEGF is a therapeutic mediator for cerebral ischemia because of its angiogenic and neuroprotective effects. However, several studies indicate that the delivery route and the timing of VEGF delivery seem to determine the outcome of VEGF therapy after an ischemic insult. In the acute stage of cerebral ischemia, the effect of VEGF is considered controversial. Therefore, further work is necessary to identify a suitable therapeutic regime prior to phase II/III clinical trials. In addition, recent studies indicate that VEGF enhances neurogenesis after ischemia. Therefore, further investigation is necessary to clarify the exact role of VEGF in neurogenesis.