Tag Archives: angiogenesis

A new gene therapy that targets the heart and requires only one treatment session, has been found safe for patients with coronary artery disease, according to a successful trial carried out in Finland (doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehx352). The treatment enhances circulation in ischaemic heart muscle and the effects were still visible one year after treatment. The randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled phase 1/2a trial was carried out in collaboration between the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital and Turku PET Centre. The biological bypass is based on gene transfer in which a natural human growth factor, AdVEGF-DΔNΔC, a ne

Effect of VEGF on the vasculature Figure 1. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulation of endothelial cells has a number of effects, primarily protective VEGF plays a primarily protective role in the vasculature (figure 1).2 It is known that VEGF stimulation of the endothelium has an antithrombotic effect. It stimulates endothelial cells to proliferate and migrate, which is crucial for the renewal of the endothelium. VEGF also has an anti-apoptotic effect, allowing endothelial cells to survive for longer periods of time. VEGF stimulation of endothelial cells is involved in the induction and release of nitric oxide and prostacyclin,