Mice lacking the vascular endothelial growth factor-B gene (Vegfb) have smaller hearts, dysfunctional coronary vasculature, and impaired recovery from cardiac ischemia

Vascular endothelial growth factor-B (VEGF-B) is closely related to VEGF-A, an effector of blood vessel growth during development and disease and a st rong candidate for angiogenic therapies. To further study the in vivo funct ion of VEGF-B, we have generated Vegfb knockout mice (Vegfb(-/-)). Unlike V egfa knockout mice, which die during embryogenesis, Vegfb(-/-) mice are hea lthy and fertile. Despite appearing overtly normal, Vegfb(-/-) hearts are r educed in size and display vascular dysfunction after coronary occlusion an d impaired recovery from experimentally induced myocardial ischemia. These findings reveal a role for VEGF-B in the development or function of coronar y vasculature and suggest potential clinical use in therapeutic angiogenesi s. The full text of this article is available at http://www.circresaha.org.