Abstract
The angiopoietins and members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family are the only growth factors thought to be largely specific for vascular endothelial cells. Targeted gene inactivation studies in mice have shown that VEGF is necessary for the early stages of vascular development and that angiopoietin-1 is required for the later stages of vascular remodeling. Here it is shown that transgenic overexpression of angiopoietin-1 in the skin of mice produces larger, more numerous, and more highly branched vessels. These results raise the possibility that angiopoietins can be used, alone or in combination with VEGF, to promote therapeutic angiogenesis.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Angiopoietin-1
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Animals
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Capillaries / anatomy & histology
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Capillaries / ultrastructure
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Endothelial Growth Factors / genetics
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Endothelial Growth Factors / physiology
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Endothelium, Vascular / ultrastructure
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Gene Expression
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Keratinocytes / metabolism
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Lymphokines / genetics
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Lymphokines / physiology
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Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
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Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology*
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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Neovascularization, Physiologic*
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Skin / blood supply*
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Skin / metabolism
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Transgenes
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
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Venules / anatomy & histology
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Venules / ultrastructure
Substances
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Angiopoietin-1
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Angpt1 protein, mouse
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Endothelial Growth Factors
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Lymphokines
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors