Is VEGF a potential therapeutic target in asthma?

Abstract

Asthma is currently affecting approximately 300 million people worldwide and is expected to rise to 400 million over the next couple decades. Airway remodelling in asthma consists of mucus hypersecretion, epithelium erosion, extracellular matrix protein deposition under the basement membrane, smooth muscle proliferation and angiogenesis. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a part in remodelling through its effect upon angiogenesis, but the extent of its contribution to asthma pathology is not yet completely understood. Irreversible airway remodelling seems to be an important contributor to asthma progressive worsening, so further developments in preventing remodelling are warranted. A better understanding of VEGF mechanisms in asthma could aid such therapeutic developments.