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Assessing Therapeutic Angiogenesis in a Murine Model of Hindlimb Ischemia
Published on: June 8, 2019
Collateral vessel physiology and functional impact-in vivo assessment of collateral channels
M Lim1, A Ziaee, Morten J Kern
1J. Gerard Mudd Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. St. Louis University Health Sciences Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Insights
Coronary collateral vessels vary greatly in patients with atherosclerosis, influencing outcomes. Understanding and assessing these vessels is crucial for managing heart conditions and improving patient results.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Vascular Biology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Coronary atherosclerosis presents with significant variability in symptoms and outcomes.
- Collateral vessels in the heart circulation play a key role in this variability.
- Ischemia episodes can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, enhancing collateral flow.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the significance and development of coronary collaterals.
- To discuss current understanding of collateral vessel assessment.
- To highlight the role of angiogenic growth factors in collateralization.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on coronary collateral circulation.
- Analysis of studies on collateral vessel recruitment and function.
- Examination of methods for assessing coronary collateral development.
Main Results:
- Collateral vessels significantly impact patient presentation and outcomes in coronary atherosclerosis.
- The growth of new vessels (angiogenesis) is stimulated by ischemic events.
- A subset of patients possesses recruitable collaterals that limit heart damage during ischemia.
Conclusions:
- Coronary collateral development is a critical factor in managing coronary atherosclerosis.
- Further research into assessing and stimulating collateral growth is warranted.
- Angiogenic factors show promise for therapeutic interventions in cardiovascular disease.
Abstract:
The existence and recruitment of collateral vessels within the coronary circulation may account for the tremendous variability in presentation, symptoms and outcome in patients with coronary atherosclerosis. Multiple episodes of ischemia have been found to produce the stimuli necessary for the growth of new vessels which result in collateral blood flow. Furthermore, there is also a subset of patients with readily recruitable collateral vessels that function to limit myocardial necrosis during an acute ischemic event. Promising early studies have utilized angiogenic growth factors as a means to stimulate collateral growth, bringing a renewal interest in their assessment and significance. We review, in brief, the significance and understanding of the development of coronary collaterals as well as the available means to assess them.
