To facilitate tumor colonization by adoptively transferred cells of the immune system, we created a chimeric cell adhesion molecule that mediates tumor-specific homing by binding to the integrin avb3 on angiogenic endothelial cells. A high-affinity cell adhesion molecule for integrin avb3 was generated by fusing the disintegrin kistrin to the transmembrane adhesion molecule CD31/PECAM-1. This c...

Pathological neovascularization occurs when a balance of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors is disrupted, accompanied by an amplifying inflammatory cascade. However, the interdependence of these responses and the mechanism triggering the initial angiogenic switch have remained unclear. We present data from an epithelial debridement model of corneal neovascularization describing an initial 3-day p...

Antiangiogenesis, e.g., inhibition of blood vessel growth, is being investigated as a way to prevent the growth of tumors and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases. Pharmacological inhibition interferes with the angiogenic cascade or the immature neovasculature with synthetic or semi-synthetic substances, endogenous inhibitors or biological antagonists.The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane ...

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the pivotal angiogenic growth factor activating endothelial cells to migrate, proliferate, and form capillary tubes. For an ordered endothelial cell migration, tissue invasion, and degradation of the extracellular matrix, proteolytic machinery is indispensable. Such machinery, suitable for localized proteolysis, is provided by the prourokinase–urokin...

Introduction Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) is the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease. It is a highly prevalent condition with suboptimal therapeutic options. One third of CLI patients are not suitable for surgical revascularization these ‘no-option’ patients have substantial morbidity and mortality and frequently have diabetes mellitus. Hence, new treatments are urgently required. M...

Previously, we found a positive correlation between the expression of platelet-type 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) and the progression of human prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa; Gao et al., Urology, 46: 227-237, 1995). To determine the role of 12-LOX in PCa progression, we generated stable 12-LOX-transfected PC3 cells, which synthesize high levels of 12-LOX protein and 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid ...