Division of Cardiology, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada.
Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
Biomolecules. 2017 Oct 2;7(4):74. doi: 10.3390/biom7040074.
Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones is a biological process that ensures an adequate blood flow is maintained to provide the cells with a sufficient supply of nutrients and oxygen within the body. Numerous soluble growth factors and inhibitors, cytokines, proteases as well as extracellular matrix proteins and adhesion molecules stringently regulate the multi-factorial process of angiogenesis. The properties and interactions of key angiogenic molecules such as vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and angiopoietins have been investigated in great detail with respect to their molecular impact on angiogenesis. Since the discovery of angiogenic growth factors, much research has been focused on their biological actions and their potential use as therapeutic targets for angiogenic or anti-angiogenic strategies in a context-dependent manner depending on the pathologies. It is generally accepted that these factors play an indispensable role in angiogenesis. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that this is not their only role and it is likely that the angiogenic factors have important functions in a wider range of biological and pathological processes. The additional roles played by these molecules in numerous pathologies and biological processes beyond angiogenesis are discussed in this review.
血管生成，即从预先存在的血管中形成新的血管，是一个确保有足够的血液流动来为细胞提供足够的营养和氧气的生物学过程。在体内，许多可溶性生长因子和抑制剂、细胞因子、蛋白酶以及细胞外基质蛋白和黏附分子严格调节血管生成的多因素过程。血管内皮生长因子（VEGFs）、成纤维细胞生长因子（FGFs）和血管生成素等关键血管生成分子的特性和相互作用，已经在分子水平上对其对血管生成的影响进行了深入研究。自发现血管生成生长因子以来，大量的研究集中在它们的生物学作用及其作为治疗靶点的潜力，用于依赖于病理学的血管生成或抗血管生成策略。一般认为，这些因素在血管生成中起着不可或缺的作用。然而，越来越明显的是，这不是它们唯一的作用，这些血管生成因子在更广泛的生物和病理过程中可能具有重要的功能。在本综述中，讨论了这些分子在血管生成以外的许多病理和生物学过程中发挥的额外作用。
