[Identification of implicated factors in angiogenesis for the study of vascular anomalies]

Angiogenesis, the development of the vascular network, and lymphangiogenesis, the development of the lymphatic system, are two processes that are tightly linked and pivotal for the development and growth of a human being. Therefore, it is not surprising that lymph/angiogenesis plays a important role for health and is implicated in many diseases such as arteriosclerosis, arthritis, diabetes and cancer, both in children and in adults. To better understand lymph/angiogenesis and the factors that are implied in man, I became interested in the etiopathogenesis of vascular and lymphatic anomalies. These lesions are often congenital, very diversified, and occur with variable frequency, but in general affect about 0,3% of the population. Most frequently, they are well demarcated and localized, and histologically constituted of enlarged, tortuous vessels. By using a genetic approach on the familial forms, we have been able to identify several genes and causative mutations. These discoveries serve as a starting point for more precise clinical diagnosis and identification of the precise underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. These genes are also important for the search of novel therapies for these anomalies, as well as for all other disorders in which lymph/angiogenesis is implicated.