Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 121 human

VEGF121 is expressed in human HEK 293 cells as a disulfide linked, glycosylated cytokine with an apparent molecular mass of 37 kDa as a homodimer and 50 kDa as a homotrimer. Production in human HEK 293 cells offers authentic glycosylation. Glycosylation contributes to stability in cell growth media and other applications.

VEGF121 belongs to the PDGF/VEGF growth factor family characterized by the presence of eight conserved cysteine residues and a cystine knot structure.[1] VEGF is secreted by the majority of tumor cells and initiates angiogenesis by activating endothelial cells of existing blood vessels and promoting their migration.[2]
VEGF has also been implicated in correlation with poor prognosis in breast cancer.[2]
In addition, VEGF is released in rheumatoid arthritis in response to TNF-α, increasing endothelial permeability and stimulating angiogenesis (formation of capillaries).[3][4]

The specific activity was determined by the dose-dependent stimulation of the proliferation of HUVEC cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells).