Vascularisation
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Vascularisation is when blood vessels form in tissues or organs to supply them with oxygen and nutrients. It is important for growth, healing, and keeping the body working properly. Without it, tissues wouldn’t get the nutrients that they need to work and stay healthy.
Blood vessels are essential for keeping our cells and tissues alive. When they do not work the way they are supposed to, it leads to serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Scientists are working on ways to grow new blood vessels to help with tissue engineering and healing injuries. This is why vascularisation is important in medicine.[1]
How Vascularisation Works
[edit]These are processes in which vascularisation happens and should not be confused with vascularisation itself:
- Angiogenesis (new blood vessels from existing ones):- the process where new blood vessels form from pre-existing ones. This happens naturally when the body needs to repair tissue or when a wound needs to heal. It is driven by signals from growth factors, such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), which prompts the formation of new vessels. However, this process can occasionally go wrong in timor formation where it allows the tutors to create their own blood supply and grow larger, which can contribute to diseases like cancer.[2]
- Vasculogenesis (creating blood vessels from scratch):- this is the creation of blood vessels during early development particularly in embryos. Blood vessels start to form from special cells known as endothelial progenitor cells. While this process mostly happens during embryonic development, it can also occur in adults when the body needs to repair damaged blood vessels or grow new ones after an injury occurs.[3]
- Arteriogenesis (enlarging blood vessels for better blood flow):- this is a process where smaller and less efficient blood vessels become enlarged into fully functioning arteries which usually happens in response to increased demand in the body such as during exercise or when blood vessels are blocked. This aids in ensuring that tissues are supplied with enough blood and oxygen.[4]
- Lymphangiogenesis (formation of lymphatic vessels):- this process is similar to angiogenesis but involves the creation of lymphatic vessels which are essential for draining excess fluid and fighting infections. This process is also key to conditions like inflammation and the spreading of cancer.[5]
Why Vascularisation is Important
[edit]1.Cancer treatment:- In cancer, tumours take over the body’s vascularisation processes to supply themselves with blood, helping them grow and spread. Scientists are now developing therapies that block angiogenesis, cutting off the tumour blood supply. This has become an essential strategy in cancer treatments, with medications like bevacizumab that are being used to shrink tumours by preventing blood vessel growth.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Orozco-García, Elizabeth; van Meurs, D.J.; Calderón, Jc.; Narvaez-Sanchez, Raul; Harmsen, M.C. (May 2023). "Endothelial plasticity across PTEN and Hippo pathways: A complex hormetic rheostat modulated by extracellular vesicles". Translational Oncology. 31: 101633. doi:10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101633. PMC 10020115. PMID 36905871.
- ^ Carmeliet, Peter (December 2005). "Angiogenesis in life, disease and medicine". Nature. 438 (7070): 932–936. doi:10.1038/nature04478. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 16355210.
- ^ Asahara, Takayuki; Murohara, Toyoaki; Sullivan, Alison; Silver, Marcy; van der Zee, Rien; Li, Tong; Witzenbichler, Bernhard; Schatteman, Gina; Isner, Jeffrey M. (1997-02-14). "Isolation of Putative Progenitor Endothelial Cells for Angiogenesis". Science. 275 (5302): 964–966. doi:10.1126/science.275.5302.964. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 9020076.
- ^ Cai, Weijun; Schaper, Wolfgang (2008-08-01). "Mechanisms of arteriogenesis". Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica. 40 (8): 681–692. doi:10.1093/abbs/40.8.681. ISSN 1672-9145.
- ^ Alitalo, Kari; Tammela, Tuomas; Petrova, Tatiana V. (2005-12-14). "Lymphangiogenesis in development and human disease". Nature. 438 (7070): 946–953. doi:10.1038/nature04480. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 16355212.
- ^ Ferrara, Napoleone; Kerbel, Robert S. (December 2005). "Angiogenesis as a therapeutic target". Nature. 438 (7070): 967–974. doi:10.1038/nature04483. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 16355214.