Recently, VEGF-B overexpressed mice (under dobutamine stress) as well as VEGF-B186 and soluble VEGF-R1 transgene co-delivery in pigs were shown to induce cardiac arrhythmias, suggesting the role of NRP-1 in the growth of sympathetic nerves and subsequent cardiac arrhythmias [54]. Here, VEGFB is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.