The original member of the family of endothelial cell growth factors referred to as VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTORS. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A was originally isolated from tumor cells and referred to as "tumor angiogenesis factor" and "vascular permeability factor". Although expressed at high levels in certain tumor-derived cells it is produced by a wide variety of cell types. In addition to stimulating vascular growth and vascular permeability it may play a role in stimulating VASODILATION via NITRIC OXIDE-dependent pathways. Alternative splicing of the mRNA for vascular endothelial growth factor A results in several isoforms of the protein being produced.

Synonyms: Vascular Permeability Factor, 0, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A, Permeability Factor, Vascular, VEGF, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, GD-VEGF, Glioma Derived Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Factor, VEGF-A, Vasculotropin, Glioma-Derived Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Factor