VEGF and ALS: the luckiest growth factor?

Converging evidence points to a role for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in neuronal protection from hypoxic, ischemic and related forms of injury. Recent findings also suggest a previously unsuspected connection between VEGF and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a major neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology. Further investigation of the relationship between VEGF and ALS could provide insight into the pathogenesis of ALS, and facilitate the development of therapeutic approaches for this currently untreatable and fatal crippling disease of motor neurons.