The controls of microvascular survival

L E Benjamin1

  • 1Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. lbenjami@caregroup.harvard.edu

Cancer Metastasis Reviews
|February 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

This review explores molecular mechanisms regulating microvascular and endothelial cell survival. Understanding these pathways is crucial for developmental biology and treating vascular pathologies like cancer by stabilizing or destabilizing blood vessels.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Cellular Signaling
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Microvascular survival is critical for vascular development and pathologies.
  • Current understanding of molecular controls for selective vessel regression is limited.
  • Targeting neovascularization requires molecular strategies for vessel stabilization or destabilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review known mechanisms and molecules involved in microvascular and endothelial cell survival.
  • To discuss in vitro survival signaling in the context of in vivo microvascular survival.
  • To explore how to integrate in vitro and in vivo data to explain complex vessel survival regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of molecular signaling pathways.
  • Analysis of in vitro endothelial cell survival mechanisms.
  • Comparison with in vivo microvascular remodeling processes.

Main Results:

  • Detailed description of molecular signaling pathways governing endothelial cell survival.
  • Discussion of discrepancies and convergences between in vitro and in vivo survival data.
  • Identification of key molecules and mechanisms regulating selective vessel regression.

Conclusions:

  • Coordinated survival signaling pathways are essential for vascular structure.
  • Further research integrating in vitro and in vivo findings is needed to fully understand microvascular survival regulation.
  • This knowledge can inform therapeutic strategies for vascular diseases and cancer treatment.

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
Autoregulation of Blood Flow01:17

Autoregulation of Blood Flow

Autoregulation mechanisms are characterized by their inherent capacity for self-regulation without necessitating specific nervous stimulation or endocrine control. These mechanisms facilitate the adjustment of blood flow and, therefore, perfusion specific to each tissue region. This self-regulation encompasses chemical signals and myogenic controls.
Chemical Signaling in Autoregulation
Chemical signaling operates at the precapillary sphincter level, inciting either contraction or relaxation.
Diabetic Retinopathy01:27

Diabetic Retinopathy

DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...