生体分子研究と治療学ジャーナル

概要

Angiogenesis and it’s Vital Function in Healing of Wounds

David Martin

Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels are formed, allowing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues of the body. It is an important function required for growth, development and wound healing. However, it also plays an important role in the development of cancer because, like other parts of the body, the tumor requires a blood supply for it to thrive and grow.

Physiological angiogenesis plays a vital role during embryonic development and later, in adult life, in the female reproductive tract in the ovary and in the uterus, for a few days every month. Angiogenesis in a wound is similarly short lived, usually lives not more than 2 weeks. Therefore, two hallmarks of physiological angiogenesis are its brevity, and that many of the new capillary blood vessels either will regress or will go on to become `established` micro vessels.