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Primary mouse endothelial cell culture for assays of angiogenesis.

The growth of new blood vessels, known as angiogenesis, is a dynamic but highly regulated process involving many different regulatory pathways. Endothelial cell migration and proliferation is also essential for this process to occur. Studying the behavior of endothelial cells and how they repond to the factors involved in angiogenesis is important in understanding how the process is controlled. The ability to generatic primary endothelial cells allows for such detailed studies. In this chapter, we present the method for endothelial cell isolation that we have found to be successful and that we routinely employ to isolate and culture primary endothelial cells.

Animals↗

Angiogenesis after sintered bone implantation in rat parietal bone.

We studied the effect of bone substitutes on revascularization and the restart of blood supply after sintered bone implantation in comparison with synthetic hydroxyapatite implantation and fresh autogenous bone transplantation (control) in rat parietal bones. Methods for the study included the microvascular corrosion cast method and immunohistochemical techniques were also used. The revascularization of the control group was the same as that for usual wound healing in the observations of the microvascular corrosion casts. The sintered bone implantation group was quite similar to that of the control group. In the synthetic hydroxyapatite group, immature newly-formed blood vessels existed even on the 21st day after implantation and the physiological process of angiogenesis was interrupted. Immunohistochemically, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which activates angiogenesis, appeared at the early stages of both the control group and the sintered bone implantation group. VEGF reduced parallel with the appearance of the transforming growth factor factor-beta-1 (TGF-beta-1), which obstructs angiogenesis, and the angiogenesis passed gradually into the mature stage. In the hydroxyapatite implantation group, TGF-beta-1 appeared at the early stage of the implants. The appearance of VEGF lagged and it existed around the pores of hydroxyapatite even on the 21st day of the implantation. Proliferation and wandering of endothelial cells continued without any maturing of the vessels. These findings suggest that the structure and the components of the implant material affect angiogenesis after implantation as well as new bone formation.

Animals↗

Angiopoietins in angiogenesis and beyond.

The angiopoietin (Ang) family of growth factors includes four members, all of which bind to the endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2. Two of the Angs, Ang-1 and Ang-4, activate the Tie2 receptor, whereas Ang-2 and Ang-3 inhibit Ang-1-induced Tie2 phosphorylation. While genetic models have underscored the importance of Angs in the developing cardiovascular system, other studies have demonstrated that Ang-1 promotes endothelial cell survival, sprouting and tube formation. More recently, a new aspect of the biology of this class of growth factors has emerged, namely the ability of Ang-1 to reduce inflammation. This review presents an outline of Angs and their receptors, examining their structure, expression, signalling, regulation and biological significance and comments on the role and potential usefulness of Angs in medicine.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents↗

Angiogenesis-research frontiers. A basic science conference of the New York Academy of Medicine.

Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels, is essential for both tumour growth and metastasis. Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the angiogenic process and its regulation have led to the discovery of a variety of targets for therapeutic intervention. The potential application of these angiogenic inhibitors is currently under intense preclinical and clinical investigation. Compelling evidence suggests that vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors play critical roles in tumour-associated angiogenesis. Tumour homing factors will drive the growth of new vessels, neoangiogenesis, to satisfy the demands of the growing tumour. By attacking the angiogenic process the tumour will he starved for oxygen and nutrients, thus impairing its growth. This has been demonstrated in a variety of animal tumour models in which disabling the function of VEGF or its receptor was shown to inhibit both tumour growth and metastasis. The New York Academy of Medicine organised a day-long meeting to discuss emerging ideas, currently available in vitro and animal models and evaluation of these therapies during their preclinical development and in clinical trials.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

Molecular targets in the inhibition of angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis, the process of blood vessel formation, is crucial for malignant tumour growth and metastases; therefore, it has become an attractive target for anticancer therapy. Theoretically applicable to most solid tumours, this therapy may be advantageous over existing cytotoxic therapy, since it is directed at genetically stable endothelium growing within tumours rather than at malignant cells, which acquire resistance to treatment. Many promising angiogenesis inhibitors have been developed, although their activity has yet to be demonstrated in human clinical trials. To improve therapeutic benefit, this may require further insight into tumour angiogenesis, development of appropriate surrogate markers of activity, treatment of early stage neoplastic disease and probably a combination of different classes of antiangiogenesis agents to overcome redundant mechanisms of angiogenesis control.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

Autocrine and paracrine roles of polypeptide growth factors, cytokines and vasogenic substances in normal and tumorous pituitary function and growth: a review.

In addition to the classical hormones, the production of numerous polypeptide growth factors, cytokines, vasogenic substances and neuropeptides by pituitary cells has been demonstrated. Expression of the corresponding receptors on pituitary cells enables these factors to influence growth and function of the pituitary by auto- or paracrine mechanisms. Thus, in addition to the external endocrine control of pituitary growth and function, an intrinsic intercellular communication network seems to be involved in the control of pituitary homeostasis. The cell-to-cell communication may be of importance for the pre- and postnatal differentiation of the pituitary, for the regulation of the cellular composition of the gland (by balancing mitosis and apoptosis and controlling angiogenesis) and for the adaption of pituitary function to altered physiological conditions (i.e. stress, pregnancy and diseases). Differences in the expression of or the response to the above-mentioned factors in pituitary adenomas indicate that these substances are of importance for pituitary tumorigenesis. Disturbances of auto-/paracrine mechanisms may not necessarily be involved in the tumor initiation processes, but they may play a crucial role in tumor progression. After the initial transformation, the clonal expansion of the tumor cell is dependent on its ability to escape either from the inhibitory action of growth suppressing factors or to develop an autocrine mechanism that allows autonomous growth. In summary, therefore, this review outlines the potential role of polypeptide growth factors, cytokines and vasogenic peptides as auto-/paracrine-acting substances in normal pituitary and pituitary adenomas.

Animals↗

Angiogenesis during primate placentation in health and disease.

Normal embryonic development is dependent upon a sufficient oxygen, nutrient and waste exchange through the placenta. In primates including humans, this exchange is attained by successful haemochorial placentation which requires the transformation of maternal intramyometrial spiral arterioles by trophoblast invasion to gain uteroplacental circulation, and establishment and maintenance of a competent fetoplacental vasculature. Thus, trophoblast and endothelial cell differentiation, proliferation and invasion occurring during placentation have to be tightly regulated. This review focuses on the diverse developmental steps during haemochorial placentation in humans and other primates and the possible involvement of angiogenic growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietins (Ang)) in these processes, highlighting the importance of specific actions of angiogenic ligand-receptor pairs. It is hypothesized that VEGF/VEGF-R1 and Ang-1/Tie receptor 2 (Tie-2) may regulate trophoblast differentiation and invasion; VEGF/VEGF-R2 and Ang-1/Tie-2 may promote fetoplacental vascular development and stabilization; and Ang-2/Tie-2 may be involved in maternal vascular remodelling. The importance of a tight regulation of angiogenic factors and their endogenous antagonists for normal development of the placenta is demonstrated by failure of this system, resulting in abnormal placenta vascularization and trophoblast invasion associated with intrauterine growth retardation or pre-eclampsia.

Animals↗

Successful antiangiogenic therapy of giant cell angioblastoma with interferon alfa 2b: report of 2 cases.

We describe 2 cases of angioblastoma, a rare, destructive pediatric tumor, treated with interferon alfa 2b (IFNalpha2b). The first patient is a 10-month-old male who presented with an ulcerated palatal neoplasm that could not be completely resected. The second is a male neonate with a congenital tumor of the right hand that invaded the hypothenar eminence, destroying the fourth and fifth metacarpals. Biopsy in both patients was interpreted as giant cell angioblastoma. Angioblastoma is rare; there is only 1 reported case that necessitated amputation of an upper extremity, also initially recommended for our patient. Because there is little experience with chemotherapy, permission was granted to employ an antiangiogenic regimen of IFNalpha2b. The angiogenic protein, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), was abnormally elevated in both patients. Both patients received IFNalpha2b. In the first child, it was used after incomplete resection, because biopsy-proven tumor was present at the margin and in the nasopharynx. Biopsies 15 months after initiation of IFN2alphab were negative for tumor. Therapy was stopped after 3 years. Eighteen months later, the patient remains disease-free. In the second child, IFNalpha2b was started after debridement of the ulcerated tumor. Over 11 months, the tumor completely regressed and there was bony regeneration of the metacarpals. The fifth digit was amputated because of damage to the metacarpophalangeal joint by the tumor. IFNalpha2b therapy was discontinued after 1 year of treatment, and the child remains disease-free 2 years and 8 months later. In conclusion, this report demonstrates that: 1) a bFGF-overexpressing low-grade tumor can respond to IFNalpha2b in a manner similar to life-threatening infantile hemangiomas, 2) urinary bFGF levels can help guide IFNalpha dosage in such patients, and 3) although bFGF-mediated tumor angiogenesis is inhibited by IFNalpha, physiologic angiogenesis seems to be unaffected.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

Cellular actions and signaling by endostatin.

The malignant transformation of a normal cell into a cancer cell requires no vasculature. Growth of solid tumors, however, requires angiogenesis to provide oxygen and nutrients to support cell proliferation. The switch from an avascular to a vascular phenotype is typically associated with acceleration of tumor growth. Antiangiogenic therapy, starving a tumor of its blood supply, is an attractive addition to the anticancer armamentarium. Animal tests of antiangiogenic therapy have shown remarkable potential. Initial human trials have proven antiangiogenic therapy to be remarkably nontoxic. Numerous antiangiogenic agents have been isolated as proteolytic fragments of endogenous polypeptides of the extracellular matrix. Endostatin was the first such antiangiogenic protein described and its potent antitumor effects in mice have generated wide interest. This review summarizes recent advances in endostatin biology and highlights new results on the cellular and subcellular mechanisms of endostatin action.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

Role of nitric oxide in the modulation of angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis, the development of new capillaries form pre-existing vessels, requires the coordinate activation of endothelial cells, which migrate and proliferate in response to growth factors to form functional vessels. Therapeutic angiogenesis is proposed to restore tissue integrity and function following damage and ischemia, while strategies aimed to block or suppress the neovascular growth are designed as adjuvant therapies for cancer treatment. Different experimental and clinical observations support the existence of a molecular/biochemical link between vasodilation, nitric oxide (NO) production and angiogenesis. NO significantly contributes to the prosurvival/proangiogenic program of capillary endothelium by triggering cell growth and differentiation via endothelial-constitutive NO synthase (ecNOS) activation, and cyclic GMP (cGMP) dependent gene transcription. Re-establishment of a balanced NO production in the cardiovascular system results in a reduction of cell damage during inflammatory and vascular diseases. Elevation of NOS activity in correlation with angiogenesis and tumor growth and aggressiveness has been extensively reported in experimental and human tumors. On these bases, the nitric oxide pathway appears to be a promising target for the development of pro- and anti-angiogenic therapeutic strategies. In particular, the use of NOS inhibitors or NO scavengers seems appropriate to reduce edema, block angiogenesis and facilitate antitumor drug delivery.

Free Radical Scavengers↗

Protein kinases and the hypoxia-inducible factor-1, two switches in angiogenesis.

In the last few decades it has become clear that detailed understanding of the mechanisms of angiogenesis, a process leading to growth of new blood vessels, should lead to improved treatment of diseases such as ischemic disorders and cancer where neovascularization is impaired or activated, respectively. In this review, we will outline some of our recent findings concerning the regulation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key player in angiogenesis and one of its transcription factors, the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) a master gene product driving adaptation to hypoxia. We will discuss the observation that growth factors and oncogenic transformation via the mitogen-activated protein kinases p42/p44 MAPKs not only activate the VEGF promoter through the Sp1/AP-2 transcriptional factor complex but also phosphorylate HIF-1alpha leading in turn to enhance HIF-1 dependent transcriptional activation of VEGF. The stress-activated protein kinases (SAPK) also contribute to angiogenesis by stabilizing VEGF mRNA. Finally, we will present recent advances into oxygen-sensing, in particular the HIF-hydroxylases that govern HIF-1alpha instability (PHD2) or inactivation (FIH-1). The revelation of these oxygen sensors has provided pharmacologists with new molecular targets for the development of novel therapies to control angiogenesis either positively or negatively.

Cell Hypoxia↗

Calcium as a molecular target in angiogenesis.

The plethora of cellular pathways and events involved in angiogenesis are a prime example of the widespread role of calcium ion flux in biological functions. Indeed, calcium is a main point of intersection for many distinct molecular signaling pathways that promote and modulate angiogenesis. Here, we illustrate some of the important aspects of calcium induction, function, downstream effects, and resulting cellular changes that ensue. We describe some of the main mechanisms of calcium regulation in cells as well as intracellular and cross-membrane flux, highlighting key players that are known to facilitate these events. We review some of the major signaling pathways that tie into angiogenesis, and also describe how cellular phenotypic changes that occur during angiogenesis require processes rich in calcium ion stimulation of gradient shifts. Lastly, we hypothesize on current thinking of the role of calcium as a whole in angiogenic cellular function and propose new insight into calcium as a universal effector molecule and a prime target for therapeutic intervention.

Calcium↗

Hypertension and angiogenesis.

Arterial Hypertension (AH) is characterized by reduced nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis, activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosteron-System (RAAS), vasoconstriction, and microvascular rarefaction. The latter contributes to target organ damage, especially in left ventricular hypertrophy, and may partially be due to impaired angiogenesis. Angiogenesis, the formation of new microvessels and microvascular networks from existing ones, is a highly regulated process that arises in response to hypoxia and other stimuli and that relieves tissue ischemia. In AH, angiogenesis seems impaired. However, blood pressure alone does not affect angiogenesis, and microvascular rarefaction is present in normotensive persons with a family history for AH. Normal or increased NO in several processes and diseases enables or enhances angiogenesis (e.g. in portal hypertension) and reduced NO biosynthesis (for example, in a rat model of AH, in other disease models in vivo, and in endothelial NO Synthase knock out mice) impairs angiogenesis. Angiogenic growth factors such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) induce NO and require NO to elicit an effect. Effector molecules and corresponding receptors of the RAAS either induce (Bradykinin, Angiotensin II) or perhaps inhibit angiogenesis. The pattern of Bradykinin- and Angiotensin II-receptor expression and the capacity to normalize NO biosynthesis may determine whether ACE-inhibitors, Angiotensin II-receptor antagonists and other substances affect angiogenesis. Reconstitution of a normally vascularized tissue by reversal of impaired angiogenesis with drugs such as ACE inhibitors and AT1 receptor antagonists may contribute to successful treatment of hypertension-associated target organ damage, e.g. left ventricular hypertrophy.

Animals↗

Angiogenesis and hemostasis in hematological neoplasias.

Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and metastasis. This is firmly established in solid tumors, but accumulating evidence suggests that this is also an important event in hematological neoplasias. Angiogenesis is therefore a putative target for therapy. The potential application of different angiogenesis inhibitors is currently under intense clinical investigation, and we will here review a number of these trials. The association between cancer and thromboembolic disease is even better documented, and again, this is not limited to solid tumors. It appears that many patients with hematological malignancies have a dysfunctional hemostatic system, with increased risk of thromboembolism. Furthermore, effective antithrombotic therapy seems to reduce the risk of cancer progression and even prolongs overall survival. In this review we will thus discuss the mechanisms involved in the regulation of angiogenesis and hemostasis and present evidence for a shared biology. A number of factors regulating the hemostatic system also have pro- or anti-angiogenic properties. Tissue factor (TF) and TF pathway inhibitor (TFPI) seem to play a central role, and there are several lines of evidence suggesting a close cooperation between TF/TFPI and pro-angiogenic factors like members of the vascular endothelial growth factor family. A better understanding of this shared biology may reveal new targets, and will probably increase the safety of targeting the blood supply.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

Gene therapy for ischemic brain diseases.

We discuss possible gene therapies for the treatment of ischemic diseases in the central nervous system (CNS). These therapies aim at the prevention of carotid artery restenosis, stimulation of angiogenesis for ischemic brain, protection of neurons against ischemia, and prevention of vasospasm due to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Carotid artery restenosis can perhaps be approached by preventing vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation via gene therapy in addition to surgical treatment. Cerebral angiogenesis therapy might be applicable to moyamoya disease. Gene therapies with VEGF and HGF to stimulate angiogenesis have been successful in muscle; however, efficacy in the CNS is unknown. Gene transfection efficiency of viral vectors has been poor in the CNS, and the safety of such vectors is questionable. Therefore, development of gene therapy is for neural protection and prevention of vasospasm due to SAH has been limited. Infusion of HVJ-AVE liposomes into monkey cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space yielded wide-spread gene transfection. HVJ-AVE liposomes may be a promising vector for use in the human CNS. Few currently available gene therapies appear to be options for clinical treatment of cerebral ischemia despite many experimental designs. In addition to the inherent difficulties of treating the CNS, vectors and methods for introducing vectors into the CNS must be improved.

Animals↗