Molecular, Cellular, and Clinical Aspects of Angiogenesis

There has been an explosion of research activity related to angiogenesis in recent years, and hundreds of laboratories worldwide are actively involved in many aspects of angiogenesiS. The literature on angiogenesis increases exponentially every year, and more than 16,000 peer-reviewed articles have been published the past 25 years, which are scattered in basic science and clinical journals. The complexity of the cascade of events leading to new vessel formation from preexisting ones has challenged scientists in cell biology, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, molecular biology, developmental biology, and other fields. With their multidisciplinary approach and the powerful new techniques that have been developed, the progress in understanding angiogenesis has been impressive indeed. Only 12 years ago the mention of an angiogenic factor caused skepticism. Today we have the complete amino-acid fiequence and their genes cloned for at least 9 angiogenic factors. Many laboratories are studying their role in angiogenesis, and several biotechnology firms have a keen interest in commercial developments relative to these molecules. The role of extracellular matrix components in angiogenesis and the interaction of endothelial cells with other cell types such as pericytes, smooth muscle cells, and inflammatory cells have been studied by other groups. This rapid expansion is the result of a realization that in many disease states a common underlying pathology is a derangement in angiogenesis.

Klappentext

Proceedings of a NATO ASI held in Porto Carras, Halkidiki, Greece, June 16-27, 1995.

Zusammenfassung
Proceedings of a NATO ASI held in Porto Carras, Halkidiki, Greece, June 16-27, 1995.

Inhalt
Heterogeneity of Endothelial Cells.- On the possible role of endothelial cell heterogeneity in angiogenesis.- Gene expression and endothelial cell differentiation.- Role of Extracellular Matrix in Angiogenesis.- Co-expression of the ?2-subunit of laminin and the metastatic phenotype in melanoma cells.- Plasminogen activators in fibrinolysis and pericellular proteolysis. Studies on human endothelial cells in vitro.- The effect of ionizing radiation on endothelial cell differentiation and angiogenesis.- Angiogenic Factors and Their Receptors.- Basic fibroblast growth factor expression in endothelial cells: An autocrine role in angiogenesis?.- The biology of vascular endothelial growth factor.- Scatter factor as a potential tumor angiogenesis factor.- The role of thrombin in angiogenesis.- The role of thrombospondin in angiogenesis.- Signal transduction pathways and the regulation of angiogenesis.- Physiological Angiogenesis.- Angiogenesis in the female reproductive organs.- Angiogenesis in skeletal muscle.- Wound healing angiogenesis: The metabolic basis of repair.- Wound healing, fibrin and angiogenesis.- Pathological Angiogenesis.- Tumor oxygenation and tumor vascularity: Evidence for their clinical relevance in cancer of the uterine cervix and considerations on their potential biological role in tumor progression.- Role of scatter factor in pathogenesis of AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma.- Role of the early response gene cyclooxygenase (cox)-2 in angiogenesis.- Inhibitors of Angiogenesis.- A heparanase-inhibitory, bFGF-binding sulfated oligosaccharide that inhibits angiogenesis ex ovo has potent antitumor and antimetastatic activity in vivo.- Inhibitors of angiogenesis in human urine.- Biotechnological Aspects of Angiogenesis.- Factitious angiogenesis III: How tosuccessfully endothelialize artificial cardiovascular bioprostheses by employing natural angiogenic mechanisms.- A method for the in vivo quantitation of angiogenesis in the rabbit corneal model.- Abstracts of Oral and Poster Presentations.- Participant Photo.- List of Participants.