Thursday, January 8, 2015
VEGF in Non-Murine Animal Models of Normal Physiological Processes and Disease
Angiogenesis is a dynamic process that results
in the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature. This
process is regulated by a host of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors
(Iruela-Arispe 1997). When there is an imbalance favoring pro-angiogenic
stimuli, the angiogenic switch is thrown (Bergers 2003). Blood vessels dilate
and become leaky, pericytes that surround and support mature blood vessels
loosen their connections, and the vasculature basement membrane and
extracellular matrix is degraded by proteases allowing endothelial cells to
proliferate and migrate towards the angiogenic stimuli. As endothelial cells
migrate through the angiogenic gradient, they adhere together in a tube
structure and a lumen is formed. Pericytes then migrate and stabilize the new
vessel. One of the most potent stimulators of blood vessel growth is vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (Ferrara 1997). more...
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