Therapeutic angiogenesis

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Over the past decade, significant advancements have been made in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind new blood vessel formation in health and disease. Insufficient angiogenesis and collateral formation in adult tissues, such as the heart and brain, during critical ischemia has led to innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at stimulating these processes. Therapeutic angiogenesis involves inducing new collateral vessels to bypass obstructions from atherosclerotic disease and promoting new capillaries to improve tissue oxygen exchange. Naturally occurring growth factors, like FGFs and VEGFs, have been identified for their ability to promote blood vessel formation in adults. Their therapeutic application has shown promise, enhancing natural processes and increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery to ischemic tissues in various animal models. This approach is emerging as a potential adjunct or alternative to traditional treatments like angioplasty and bypass surgery. Several strategies for delivering growth factors have been proposed and tested, including direct administration of the growth factor protein through intramuscular, intra-arterial, or intravenous routes.