Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and similar molecules are currently under investigation as potential treatments for heart disease because of their reported ability to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels.

However, a controversial report in the April issue of Nature Medicine suggests that such molecules have a downside, causing atherosclerosis, the accumulation of fat and cholesterol which is linked to hardening of the arteries.

Michael Dake and colleagues from Stanford University Medical Center tested the ability of VEGF to cause the growth of atherosclerotic plaques in mice and rabbits that are prone to developing the condition.

They found that low doses of the molecule significantly increased the size of plaques in the animals' major arteries.