When an artery or blood vessel is blocked or narrowed, the consequence is decreased blood flow, and therefore decreased oxygen, to the target organ. This is called ischemia and can result in serious, permanent damage. A goal in ischemia therapy is to induce formation of new blood vessels (called angiogenesis) in order to revascularize an area (neovascularization), be it the heart, the limbs, the brain, or some other organ.

The most widely used agents to promote angiogenesis are growth factors known as VEGF and FGF. However, in clinical settings, these have only been able to form new and stable blood vessels for a limited time. VEGF may also cause abnormal vascular leaks and aberrant masses of blood vessels. Recently, another factor a neurotrophic factor called BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) has been shown to regulate the vasculature of the developing heart, but the mechanism for this interesting action was unclear.

In the March 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Shahin Rafii and Barbara Hempstead along with colleagues from Cornell University, delve into the mechanisms underlying the angiogenic effects of BDNF in adult blood vessels.

The researchers show that BDNF and VEGF have comparable efficacy in inducing growth of tiny blood vessels in organs that contain cells that express the BDNF receptor TrkB. The also show that BDNF is as effective as VEGF in promoting recovery of the blood flow and vessel density in ischemic limbs. BDNF has local effects on TrkB expressing cells and also recruits a subset of blood stem cells that contribute to neo-angiogenesis. This special population of cells responds specifically to BDNF and contributes to neovascularization.

In an accompanying commentary, Dan Duda and Rakesh Jain write, "This work establishes that neurotrophins are novel proangiogenic factors. Understanding the molecular and cellular underpinnings of this interaction may prove to be crucial for both reg
'"/>

Contact: Stacie Bloom
press_releases@the-jci.org
212-342-4159
Journal of Clinical Investigation
1-Mar-2005

Page: 1 2
Related biology news :

1. Boosting key milk nutrients may help lower type 2 diabetes risk
2. Boosting key milk nutrients may protect against cancer
3. Boosting brain power -- with chocolate
4. Boosting killer cells might improve breast-cancer drug
5. Boosting newborns immune responses
6. Boosting the BCG vaccine to beat tuberculosis
7. Boosting vitamin C in plants can help reduce smog damage
8. High blood pressure, low energy -- a recipe for heart failure
9. Brain blood flow gives clues to treating depression
10. Study finds gender differences in renal and other genes contributing to blood pressure
11. Study suggests estrogen deficiency can lead to obesity-induced high blood pressure after menopause