Angiogenesis

Tools to elucidate molecular mechanisms

Blood vessel growth, a process known as angiogenesis, is essential for normal tissue growth, development, wound healing and repair. The formation of new blood vessels is a complex process requiring a tightly regulated balance of both stimulatory and inhibitory signals. Dysregulation of angiogenesis causes numerous pathologies, including (but not limited to) immune, inflammatory, ischemic, or malignant disease states. Common examples of disease arising from excessive angiogenesis include cancer, psoriasis, arthritis, and even obesity. On the other hand, insufficient blood vessel growth may culminate in neurodegeneration, ischemia, hypertension, or osteoporosis. As pathological angiogenesis is recognized as an underlying mechanism for an ever-increasing list of diseases, pharmacologic agents have often been exploited to modulate the process.