Stimulation of peripheral angiogenesis by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

Angiogenic growth factors constitutes a potentially novel form of therapy for patients with ischemic vascular disease. The feasibility of using recombinant formulations of angiogenic growth factors to augment collateral artery development by stimulation of capillary growth in animal models of myocardial and hindlimb ischemia has now been well established. In the case of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) similar results may be achieved by gene transfer. Further laboratory and clinical studies may yield promising insights into the fundamental basis for native as well as therapeutic angiogenesis, and at the same time more explicitly define the manner in which therapeutic angiogenesis may be successfully incorporated into clinical practice.