Vascular endothelial growthfactor A (VEGFA) gene, also known asVPF (vascular permeability factor) or MVCD1 (microvascular complicationsof diabetes type 1), belongs to the platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF/VEGF) family and is uniquely positioned on chromosome 6p21.1,having eight exons and seven introns. Thisfactor has been identified for its role in vascular permeability,with activity shown in tumor cells from rodents. In earlier studies, multiple research teams found thatVEGFA uniquely facilitated the movement of vascular endothelial cellsand induced angiogenesis in vivo. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is type 1 diabetes mellitus.