Thrombospondin‐1 inhibits VEGF levels in the ovary directly by binding and internalization via the low density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein‐1 (LRP‐1)

VEGF is a potent pro-angiogenic factor whose effects are opposed by a host of anti-angiogenic proteins, including thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). We have previously shown that VEGF has important extravascular roles in the ovary and that VEGF and TSP-1 are inversely expressed throughout the ovarian cycle. To date, however, a causal interaction between TSP-1 and VEGF has not been identified. Here, we show that TSP-1 has a direct inhibitory effect on …