Involvement of Egr-3 in the VEGF-triggered signaling pathways in ECs. Upon binding to VEGFR2, VEGF activates several signaling pathways in ECs, leading to translocation of the activated SRF, NFATc, and CREB into the cell nucleus. SRF, NFATc, and CREB bind to the promoter elements of the egr-3 gene to transcriptionally increase expression levels of Egr-3, which executes VEGF-induced vascular functions including EC proliferation, migration, tube formation, vascular sprouting, and leukocyte-EC adhesion. These in vitro endothelial activities are essential processes for VEGF-induced in vivo angiogenesis, vascular survival, and vascular permeability.