Angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels out of pre-existing capillaries, is a sequence of events that is fundamental to many physiologic and pathologic processes such as cancer, ischemic diseases, and chronic inflammation. With the identification of several proangiogenic molecules such as the vascular endothelial cell growth factor, the fibroblast growth factors (like in FGFs), and ...

Current therapeutic anti-angiogenic biologics used for the treatment of pathological ocular angiogenesis such as in diabetic retinopathy and wet macular degeneration often lead to detrimental side effects due to their interference with normal blood vessel physiology. In this issue of EMBO Molecular Medicine, Michael et al report on a novel angiogenesis inhibitor with unique properties that allo...

Vasculogenesis and angiogenesis are the processes responsible for the development of the circulatory system, the first functional unit in the developing embryo (1). Postnatal angiogenesis is encountered in pathologic situations such as diabetic retinopathy, arthritis, and, most notably, tumor growth and metastasis. It is also involved in therapeutic angiogenesis: the development of collateral b...

Angiogenesis, i.e., the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing endothelial cell (EC)-lined vessels, is critical for tissue development and also contributes to neovascularization-related diseases, such as cancer. Vascular growth factor (VEGF) bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are among many secreted cytokines that regulate EC function. While several pharmacological anti-angiogenic age...

Diabetes is one of the most serious health problems in the world. A major complication of diabetes is blood vessel disease, termed angiopathy, which is characterized by abnormal angiogenesis. In this review, we focus on angiogenesis abnormalities in diabetic complications and discuss its benefits and drawbacks as a therapeutic target for diabetic vascular complications. Additionally, we discuss...

Angiogenesis is a complex process critical for embryonic development and for survival. It is also a critical player in many pathologic processes, most notably in neoplasia. The cell signaling pathways involved in angiogenesis have become key targets for drug design, with more than 2,500 clinical trials currently under way. This review summarizes the essential features of angiogenesis and discus...