Placental growth factor: a tissue modelling factor with therapeutic potentials in neurology?
Chaballe, L.; Schoenen, J.; Franzen, R.
Acta Neurologica Belgica 111(1): 10-17
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9009 PMID: 21510227 Document Number: 655448
Placental growth factor (PlGF) is an angiogenic factor that belongs to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. Besides its well known capacity to potentiate the angiogenic action of VEGF, PlGF also participates in inflammatory processes by attracting and activating monocytes; it plays therefore more specifically a role in pathological conditions. PIGF and its two receptors, VEGFR-1 and neuropilins (NRPs), are expressed in the brain and increase after experimental stroke, but their precise functions in the nervous system remain underexplored. In this review article, we summarize present knowledge on the role of PlGF in various nervous system disease processes. Given the available data, P1GF has neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties that make it an actor of considerable interest in the pathophysiology and potentially in the therapy of degenerative and traumatic brain or spinal cord diseases.