VEGF—Virus Interactions: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications
Many types of viruses directly or indirectly target the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) system, which is a central regulator of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in physiological homeostasis, causing diverse pathologies. Other viruses have been developed into effective therapeutic tools for...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Cristina Sánchez-Martínez Esther Grueso Tania Calvo-López Jorge Martinez-Ortega Ana Ruiz José M. Almendral |
| author_facet | Cristina Sánchez-Martínez Esther Grueso Tania Calvo-López Jorge Martinez-Ortega Ana Ruiz José M. Almendral |
| author_sort | Cristina Sánchez-Martínez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many types of viruses directly or indirectly target the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) system, which is a central regulator of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in physiological homeostasis, causing diverse pathologies. Other viruses have been developed into effective therapeutic tools for VEGF modulation in conditions such as cancer and eye diseases. Some viruses may alter the levels of VEGF in the pathogenesis of respiratory syndromes, or they may encode VEGF-like factors, promoting vascular disruption and angiogenesis to enable viruses’ systemic spread. Oncogenic viruses may express interactive factors that perturb VEGF’s functional levels or downstream signaling, which increases the neovascularization and metastasis of tumors. Furthermore, many viruses are being developed as therapeutic vectors for vascular pathologies in clinical trials. Major examples are those viral vectors that inhibit the role of VEGF in the neovascularization required for cancer progression; this is achieved through the induction of immune responses, by exposing specific peptides that block signaling or by expressing anti-VEGF and anti-VEGF receptor-neutralizing antibodies. Other viruses have been engineered into effective pro- or anti-angiogenesis multitarget vectors for neovascular eye diseases, paving the way for therapies with improved safety and minimal side effects. This article critically reviews the large body of literature on these issues, highlighting those contributions that describe the molecular mechanisms, thus expanding our understanding of the VEGF–virus interactions in disease and therapy. This could facilitate the clinical use of therapeutic virus vectors in precision medicine for the VEGF system. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-507aa6e09b4f45cb94400624240fa1b1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-507aa6e09b4f45cb94400624240fa1b12024-11-08T14:34:36ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092024-11-011321181510.3390/cells13211815VEGF—Virus Interactions: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic ApplicationsCristina Sánchez-Martínez0Esther Grueso1Tania Calvo-López2Jorge Martinez-Ortega3Ana Ruiz4José M. Almendral5Biosciences Research Institute, School of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, SpainBiosciences Research Institute, School of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, SpainCentro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, SpainCentro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, SpainCentro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, SpainCentro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, SpainMany types of viruses directly or indirectly target the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) system, which is a central regulator of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in physiological homeostasis, causing diverse pathologies. Other viruses have been developed into effective therapeutic tools for VEGF modulation in conditions such as cancer and eye diseases. Some viruses may alter the levels of VEGF in the pathogenesis of respiratory syndromes, or they may encode VEGF-like factors, promoting vascular disruption and angiogenesis to enable viruses’ systemic spread. Oncogenic viruses may express interactive factors that perturb VEGF’s functional levels or downstream signaling, which increases the neovascularization and metastasis of tumors. Furthermore, many viruses are being developed as therapeutic vectors for vascular pathologies in clinical trials. Major examples are those viral vectors that inhibit the role of VEGF in the neovascularization required for cancer progression; this is achieved through the induction of immune responses, by exposing specific peptides that block signaling or by expressing anti-VEGF and anti-VEGF receptor-neutralizing antibodies. Other viruses have been engineered into effective pro- or anti-angiogenesis multitarget vectors for neovascular eye diseases, paving the way for therapies with improved safety and minimal side effects. This article critically reviews the large body of literature on these issues, highlighting those contributions that describe the molecular mechanisms, thus expanding our understanding of the VEGF–virus interactions in disease and therapy. This could facilitate the clinical use of therapeutic virus vectors in precision medicine for the VEGF system.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/21/1815VEGFangiogenesistumor virusesbevacizumaboncolytic virusesVEGF peptides |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Sánchez-Martínez Esther Grueso Tania Calvo-López Jorge Martinez-Ortega Ana Ruiz José M. Almendral VEGF—Virus Interactions: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications Cells VEGF angiogenesis tumor viruses bevacizumab oncolytic viruses VEGF peptides |
| title | VEGF—Virus Interactions: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications |
| title_full | VEGF—Virus Interactions: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications |
| title_fullStr | VEGF—Virus Interactions: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | VEGF—Virus Interactions: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications |
| title_short | VEGF—Virus Interactions: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications |
| title_sort | vegf virus interactions pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic applications |
| topic | VEGF angiogenesis tumor viruses bevacizumab oncolytic viruses VEGF peptides |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/21/1815 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cristinasanchezmartinez vegfvirusinteractionspathogenicmechanismsandtherapeuticapplications AT esthergrueso vegfvirusinteractionspathogenicmechanismsandtherapeuticapplications AT taniacalvolopez vegfvirusinteractionspathogenicmechanismsandtherapeuticapplications AT jorgemartinezortega vegfvirusinteractionspathogenicmechanismsandtherapeuticapplications AT anaruiz vegfvirusinteractionspathogenicmechanismsandtherapeuticapplications AT josemalmendral vegfvirusinteractionspathogenicmechanismsandtherapeuticapplications |