(Circulation. 2005;112:1813-1824.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.
Basic Science for Clinicians |
From BHF Laboratories, Department of Medicine, University College London, London, UK (R.K., J.F.M., I.C.Z.), and Section of Cardiology, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH (M.S.).
Correspondence to Dr I.C. Zachary, BHF Laboratories, Department of Medicine, Rayne Bldg, University College London, 5 University St, London WC1E 6JJ, UK. E-mail I.Zachary{at}ucl.ac.uk
Received January 11, 2005; revision received April 22, 2005; accepted April 29, 2005.
The role of angiogenesis in atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases has emerged as a major unresolved issue. Angiogenesis has attracted interest from opposite perspectives. Angiogenic cytokine therapy has been widely regarded as an attractive approach both for treating ischemic heart disease and for enhancing arterioprotective functions of the endothelium; conversely, a variety of studies suggest that neovascularization contributes to the growth of atherosclerotic lesions and is a key factor in plaque destabilization leading to rupture. Here, we critically review the evidence supporting a role for angiogenesis and angiogenic factors in atherosclerosis and neointima formation, emphasizing the problems raised by some of the landmark studies and the suitability of animal models of atherosclerosis and neointimal thickening for investigating the role of angiogenesis. Because many of the relevant studies have focused on the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), we consider this work in the wider context of VEGF biology and in light of recent experience from clinical trials of VEGF and other angiogenic cytokines for ischemic heart disease. Also discussed are recent findings suggesting that, although angiogenesis may contribute to neointimal growth, it is not required for the initiation of intimal thickening. Our assessment of the evidence leads us to conclude that, although microvessels are a feature of advanced human atherosclerotic plaques, it remains unclear whether angiogenesis either plays a central role in the development of atherosclerosis or is responsible for plaque instability. Furthermore, current evidence from clinical trials of both proangiogenic and antiangiogenic therapies does not suggest that inhibition of angiogenesis is likely to be a viable therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular disease.
Key Words: angiogenesis atherosclerosis endothelium growth substances
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
S. Y. Cheranov, M. Karpurapu, D. Wang, B. Zhang, R. C. Venema, and G. N. Rao An essential role for SRC-activated STAT-3 in 14,15-EET-induced VEGF expression and angiogenesis Blood, June 15, 2008; 111(12): 5581 - 5591. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Zampetaki, J. P. Kirton, and Q. Xu Vascular repair by endothelial progenitor cells Cardiovasc Res, June 1, 2008; 78(3): 413 - 421. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
F. Biscetti, E. Gaetani, A. Flex, T. Aprahamian, T. Hopkins, G. Straface, G. Pecorini, E. Stigliano, R. C. Smith, F. Angelini, et al. Selective Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR){alpha} and PPAR{gamma} Induces Neoangiogenesis Through a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Dependent Mechanism Diabetes, May 1, 2008; 57(5): 1394 - 1404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. Higuchi, F. M. Bengel, S. Seidl, P. Watzlowik, H. Kessler, R. Hegenloh, S. Reder, S. G. Nekolla, H. J. Wester, and M. Schwaiger Assessment of {alpha}v{beta}3 integrin expression after myocardial infarction by positron emission tomography Cardiovasc Res, May 1, 2008; 78(2): 395 - 403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Tello-Montoliu, F. Marin, J. Patel, V. Roldan, L. Mainar, V. Vicente, F. Sogorb, and G. Y.H. Lip Plasma angiogenin levels in acute coronary syndromes: implications for prognosis Eur. Heart J., December 2, 2007; 28(24): 3006 - 3011. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. R. Chen, E. A. Silva, W. W. Yuen, A. A. Brock, C. Fischbach, A. S. Lin, R. E. Guldberg, and D. J. Mooney Integrated approach to designing growth factor delivery systems FASEB J, December 1, 2007; 21(14): 3896 - 3903. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. K. Bajpai, E. Blaskova, S. B. Pakala, T. Zhao, W. C. Glasgow, J. S. Penn, D. A. Johnson, and G. N. Rao 15(S)-HETE Production in Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells by Hypoxia: Novel Role for MEK1 in 15(S)-HETE Induced Angiogenesis Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., November 1, 2007; 48(11): 4930 - 4938. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Gossl, L. O. Lerman, and A. Lerman Frontiers in Nephrology: Early Atherosclerosis A View Beyond the Lumen J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., November 1, 2007; 18(11): 2836 - 2842. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. P. M. Lutgens, K. B. J. M. Cleutjens, M. J. A. P. Daemen, and S. Heeneman Cathepsin cysteine proteases in cardiovascular disease FASEB J, October 1, 2007; 21(12): 3029 - 3041. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Urayama, C. Guilini, N. Messaddeq, K. Hu, M. Steenman, H. Kurose, G. Ert, and C. G. Nebigil The prokineticin receptor-1 (GPR73) promotes cardiomyocyte survival and angiogenesis FASEB J, September 1, 2007; 21(11): 2980 - 2993. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Ohayon, O. Dubreuil, P. Tracqui, S. Le Floc'h, G. Rioufol, L. Chalabreysse, F. Thivolet, R. I. Pettigrew, and G. Finet Influence of residual stress/strain on the biomechanical stability of vulnerable coronary plaques: potential impact for evaluating the risk of plaque rupture Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2007; 293(3): H1987 - H1996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. M. Caplice, S. Wang, M. Tracz, A. J. Croatt, J. P. Grande, Z. S. Katusic, and K. A. Nath Neoangiogenesis and the presence of progenitor cells in the venous limb of an arteriovenous fistula in the rat Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, August 1, 2007; 293(2): F470 - F475. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y. S. Kanwar Functional duality of progenitor cells influxing into arteriovenous fistula during its neoangiogenesis Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, August 1, 2007; 293(2): F468 - F469. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. Lu, X. Xu, M. Zhang, R. Cao, E. Brakenhielm, C. Li, H. Lin, G. Yao, H. Sun, L. Qi, et al. Combinatorial protein therapy of angiogenic and arteriogenic factors remarkably improves collaterogenesis and cardiac function in pigs PNAS, July 17, 2007; 104(29): 12140 - 12145. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. M. Vartanian and R. Sarkar Therapeutic Angiogenesis Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, July 1, 2007; 41(3): 173 - 185. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Herrmann and A. Lerman Atherosclerosis in the Back Yard J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., May 29, 2007; 49(21): 2102 - 2104. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Doyle and N. Caplice Plaque Neovascularization and Antiangiogenic Therapy for Atherosclerosis J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., May 29, 2007; 49(21): 2073 - 2080. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K.-Y. Chyu and P. K. Shah Choking off Plaque Neovascularity: A Promising Atheroprotective Strategy or A Double-Edged Sword? Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., May 1, 2007; 27(5): 993 - 995. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Srivastava, V. Kundumani-Sridharan, B. Zhang, A. K. Bajpai, and G. N. Rao 15(S)-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acid-Induced Angiogenesis Requires STAT3-Dependent Expression of VEGF Cancer Res., May 1, 2007; 67(9): 4328 - 4336. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. J. Petrovan, C. D. Kaplan, R. A. Reisfeld, and L. K. Curtiss DNA Vaccination Against VEGF Receptor 2 Reduces Atherosclerosis in LDL Receptor-Deficient Mice Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., May 1, 2007; 27(5): 1095 - 1100. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Nikolaos, R. Rauend, and K. Alfred Invited commentary Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2007; 83(2): 646 - 647. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. Stangl, H. Dreger, K. Stangl, and M. Lorenz Molecular targets of tea polyphenols in the cardiovascular system Cardiovasc Res, January 15, 2007; 73(2): 348 - 358. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. N. Bochkov, M. Philippova, O. Oskolkova, A. Kadl, A. Furnkranz, E. Karabeg, T. Afonyushkin, F. Gruber, J. Breuss, A. Minchenko, et al. Oxidized Phospholipids Stimulate Angiogenesis Via Autocrine Mechanisms, Implicating a Novel Role for Lipid Oxidation in the Evolution of Atherosclerotic Lesions Circ. Res., October 13, 2006; 99(8): 900 - 908. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
W.-Y. Chen, B.-C. Cheng, M.-J. Jiang, M.-Y. Hsieh, and M.-S. Chang IL-20 Is Expressed in Atherosclerosis Plaques and Promotes Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., September 1, 2006; 26(9): 2090 - 2095. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Herrmann, L. O. Lerman, D. Mukhopadhyay, C. Napoli, and A. Lerman Angiogenesis in Atherogenesis Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., September 1, 2006; 26(9): 1948 - 1957. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. Bhandari, R. Choo-Wing, S. P. Chapoval, C. G. Lee, C. Tang, Y. K. Kim, B. Ma, P. Baluk, M. I. Lin, D. M. McDonald, et al. Essential role of nitric oxide in VEGF-induced, asthma-like angiogenic, inflammatory, mucus, and physiologic responses in the lung PNAS, July 18, 2006; 103(29): 11021 - 11026. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Fosbrink, F. Niculescu, V. Rus, M. L. Shin, and H. Rus C5b-9-induced Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Migration Are Dependent on Akt Inactivation of Forkhead Transcription Factor FOXO1 J. Biol. Chem., July 14, 2006; 281(28): 19009 - 19018. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Sata Role of Circulating Vascular Progenitors in Angiogenesis, Vascular Healing, and Pulmonary Hypertension: Lessons From Animal Models Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., May 1, 2006; 26(5): 1008 - 1014. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
Circulation Home | Subscriptions | Archives | Feedback | Authors | Help | AHA Journals Home | Search Copyright © 2005 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited. |