Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is a normal process in growth and development, as well as in wound healing. However, it is also vitally involved in a number of pathological processes like tumor growth and metastasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and macular degeneration. It occurs in four well-characterized stages, which are controlled by pro-angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors:
Proteolytic activity
Angiogenic growth factors activate receptors on endothelial cells in preexisting blood vessels. The activated endothelial cells begin to release proteases that degrade the basement membrane.
Migration
Endothelial cells from the parent vessel walls migrate through the gaps in the basement membrane into the surrounding tissue.
Proliferation
The migrated endothelial cells proliferate and form solid sprouts. These sprouts extend toward the source of the angiogenic stimulus.
Lumen formation
The cells in the solid sprouts form a lumen, which results in a fully developed vessel.
PromoCell offers four diverse angiogenesis models to simulate these angiogenesis
stages or the whole process in vitro, thus making pro- or anti-angiogenic testing fast and efficient:
|
