A Review of Response of Angiogenic and Angiostatic Factors to Exercise

Aims: Angiogenesis and angiostasis processes mean the forming and preventing the formation of a new capillary from pre-capillary, respectively. Angiogenesis due to exercise is controlled by the balance between angiogenic and angiostatic factors. Angiogenesis due to exercise training by increasing capillary density in muscle fibers improves the transfer of oxygen and nutrients to the muscle. The aim of this review was to evaluate the response of each of these angiogenic and angiostatic factors to exercise.
Vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, angiopoiten and matrix metalloproteinase are most important angiogenic factors that show an up-regulated response following exercise. In contrast, angiostatin, endostatin, thrombospondine 1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase act as most important angiostatic factors. Although their functions in cell culture are cleared, further research is still necessary to obtain more consistent conclusions about response of inhibiting factors in both of physiologic and pathologic conditions following exercise.