Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor by cultured endothelial cells from brain microvessels.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent and specific mitogen for vascular endothelial cells that may be involved in tumor angiogenesis. Cultured capillary endothelial cells from rat brain (BCEC) express transcripts for VEGF as assayed by Northern blots and polymerase chain reaction analysis. The three forms of VEGF (VEGF120, VEGF164 and VEGF188) are produced, VEGF188 being detected in lower amounts. The sequence of rat VEGF188 was determined. Rat and human exons 6 differ at only one position (human Tyr134-->rat Phe133). Transcripts for VEGF were observed in different clones of rat BCEC, in bovine BCEC but not in bovine aortic endothelial cells.