The Presence of VEGF Receptors on the Luminal Surface of Endothelial Cells Affects VEGF Distribution and VEGF Signaling
Figure 10
Summary of VEGF transport in the body.
VEGF is secreted by parenchymal cells in the tissue. Most of VEGF is sequestered in the extracellular matrix or binds to the abluminal receptors and disappears by VEGF-bound receptor internalization. A small fraction (free VEGF) is transported from the available interstitial fluid to the plasma (mostly through the permeability route rather than by the lymphatics). Upon entering the blood, free VEGF either binds to luminal receptors and disappears by VEGF-bound receptor internalization or is cleared from the plasma.