Mechanisms and targets for angiogenic therapy after stroke.
Stroke remains a major health problem worldwide, and is the leading cause of serious long-term disability. Recent findings now suggest that strategies to enhance angiogenesis after focal cerebral ischemia may provide unique opportunities to improve clinical outcomes during stroke recovery. In this mini-review, we survey emerging mechanisms and potential targets for angiogenic therapies in brain after stroke. Multiple elements may be involved, including growth factors, adhesion molecules and progenitor cells. Furthermore, cross talk between angiogenesis and neurogenesis may also provide additional substrates for plasticity and remodeling in the recovering brain. A better understanding of the molecular interplay between all these complex pathways may lead to novel therapeutic avenues for tackling this difficult disease.
Navaratna
Deepti
D
Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, USA. navaratna.deepti@mgh.harvard.edu
Guo
Shuzhen
S
Arai
Ken
K
Lo
Eng H
EH
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008578:Meninges / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D055495:Neurogenesis; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000627:therapeutic use
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A