Angiogenic signalling pathways.
Hypoxia is widely recognised as a key driving force for tumor angiogenesis by its induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other direct-acting angiogenic factors. We describe the effect of hypoxia on gene expression and downstream angiogenic signalling; however, the angiogenic process is complex, and many other signalling pathways beyond VEGF are implicated in the formation of new vessels. These include extra-cellular signalling pathways such as the notch/delta, ephrin/Eph receptor, roundabout/slit, and netrin/UNC (uncoordinated) receptor families as well as intracellular proteins such as hedgehog and sprouty. The remarkable diversity in angiogenic signalling pathways provides many opportunities for therapeutic intervention, and anti-angiogenesis is currently a major area of oncology research.
Ahmed
Zubair
Z
Division of Immunity Studies, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, UK.
Bicknell
Roy
R
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D015398:Signal Transduction
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins