Angiogenesis, de novo formation of blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature, is crucial in embryo development, and in processes in the adult such as wound healing and ovulation. Angiogenesis is also involved in pathological conditions such as cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases, which are propagated by dysregulated, excess angiogenesis. On the other hand, lack of functional vessels and poor blood flow is a major problem in myocardial and peripheral ischemia. A detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying angiogenesis is of vital importance for the development of drugs to regulate angiogenesis. The aim of this thesis has been to identify genes involved in regulation of angiogenesis.We have investigated gene expression over time in endothelial cells (ECs), using different in vitro models. We show that the proteoglycan endocan is upregulated in ECs invading a fibrin matrix in response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A…
Contents: Molecular Regulation of Angiogenesis
Introduction
The vascular system
Vasculogenesis
Angiogenesis
Angiogenesis in diseases
Endothelial cell interactions – role of the extracellular matrix and pericytes
Lumen formation
VEGFs
VEGF-receptors
VEGFR-2
VEGFR-1
VEGFR-3
VEGFR-2 signalling
VEGF-A-regulated tubular morphogenesis
VEGFR-1 in endothelial morphogenesis
Delta/Notch in endothelial morphogenesis
Additional guidance factors
Phosphatases-negative regulators of VEGFR-2 signalling
VE-PTP- an endothelial specific phosphatase
Role of endocan in tumour vessels
Methods
Modelling angiogenesis
Fibrin invasion assay
Tube formation assay
The zebrafish model
Microarray technology…
Source: Uppsala University Library
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