[Hyperglycemia and angiogenesis]

Vascular complications of chronic hyperglycemia cause most of diabetes-associated morbidity and mortality. Main targets of chronic hyperglycemia are vascular endothelial cells. Ischemia is the late consequence of vascular damage in patients with diabetes and triggers an angiogenic response. In patients with diabetes, the angiogenic response to chronic ischemia can be excessive in some of the target organs and insufficient in others, in the same individual. The direct effects of hyperglycemia on the expression level of vascular growth factors have been variably appreciated and depend on the studied organ and model. Beyond the described effects of hyperglycemia on the expression level of vascular growth factors, direct and indirect effects of hyperglycemia on endothelial cell proliferation, extra-cellular matrix and metalloproteases might be involved in the pathology of angiogenesis in diabetes.