Angiogenesis: A Review of Molecular Mechanism

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. Angiogenesis is an important event in a variety of physiological processes such as embryonic development, menstrual cycles, reproduction, and wound repair. It is also involved in pathological conditions such as solid tumors, diseases of the eye, diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy, hypertension psoriasis, endometriosis and obesity. Angiogenesis is dependent on a delicate equilibrium between endogenous angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors.
Because of the angiogenesis importance in the development of its dependent diseases, in this Review article we examined the different dimensions of the angiogenesis process, mechanisms and factors. The data were extracted from NCBI and SID.
Angiogenesis has driven by a cocktail of growth factors and pro-angiogenic cytokines and is tempered by an equally diverse group of inhibitors of neovascularization based on recent work from several laboratories; it is now eminently clear that angiogenesis and unrestricted production of normal or aberrant forms of pro-angiogenic mediators but also the result of a relative deficiency in angiogenic-inhibitory molecules. In general, the process of angiogenesis is a multi-factorial and highly structured sequence of cellular events comprising migration, proliferation and differentiation of endothelial cells and finally vascular formation, maturation and remodeling
Conclusions : The key factor that regulates proliferation and migration of endothelial cells is the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Angiogenic therapy includes inhibition of abnormal angiogenesis in some conditions such as tumors and stimulation of angiogenesis in conditions of ischemia, such as in ischemic heart disease or peripheral vascular disease.