Angiogenesis

Definition

Angiogenesis is the physiological process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels. This process is essential for growth, development, and wound healing, as it supplies tissues with necessary nutrients and oxygen. Angiogenesis is regulated by a balance of pro-angiogenic factors (such as vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF) and anti-angiogenic factors. Abnormal angiogenesis is implicated in various diseases, including blood cancer and solid organ tumor, where tumors can induce the formation of new blood vessels to support their growth and metastasis.

Reasons to Understand Angiogenesis

• Cancer Progression: Understanding angiogenesis is crucial for comprehending how tumors grow and spread, as they often rely on new blood vessel formation to sustain themselves.
• Therapeutic Target: Angiogenesis presents a potential target for cancer therapies, with anti-angiogenic drugs designed to inhibit blood vessel formation and starve tumors.
• Wound Healing: Knowledge of angiogenesis can improve treatments for chronic wounds and ischemic diseases of brain and heart by promoting effective blood supply restoration.
• Developmental Biology: Insights into angiogenesis are essential for understanding normal development processes and how disruptions can lead to congenital abnormalities.

Diseases Associated with Abnormal Angiogenesis

Abnormal angiogenesis can lead to various diseases, including:

• Cancer: Tumors can secrete pro-angiogenic factors that stimulate the formation of new blood vessels, facilitating tumor growth and metastasis.
• Diabetic Retinopathy: Excessive angiogenesis in the retina can lead to vision impairment and blindness due to abnormal blood vessel growth.
• Age-related Macular Degeneration: Abnormal blood vessel formation in the eye can cause vision loss in older adults.
• Psoriasis: Increased angiogenesis contributes to the inflammatory lesions characteristic of this skin condition.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: New blood vessel formation in joints exacerbates inflammation and tissue damage.

Conclusion

Understanding angiogenesis is vital for developing targeted therapies for cancer and other diseases characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth. By manipulating this process, researchers aim to create innovative treatments that can effectively combat various conditions associated with dysfunctional angiogenesis.

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References

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2. Carmeliet P, Jain RK. Angiogenesis in cancer and other diseases. Nature. 2000; 407(6801): 249-257. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/35025220
3. Ferrara N, Gerber HP, LeCouter J. The biology of VEGF and its receptors. Nature Medicine. 2003; 9(6): 669-676. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0603-669
4. Jain RK. Antiangiogenic therapy for cancer: current and emerging concepts. Cancer Research. 2005; 65(3): 940-945. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-3190
5. Plate KH, Hahlbrock K, Schulte-Herbrüggen O, et al. Angiogenesis in health and disease: a review of current concepts and future perspectives. European Journal of Cell Biology. 2004; 83(7): 357-367. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1078/0171-9335-00181