title: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo as a platform for the identification of novel angiogenesis inhibitors of retinal vascular diseases.
abstract: Pathological angiogenesis of the retina is a main cause of blindness. Therapeutic approaches targeting vascular endothelial growth factor, a main angiogenesis inducer in retinal vascular diseases, show significant limitations. Thus, experimental models of retinal neovascularization remain crucial for investigating novel anti-angiogenic strategies and bringing them to patients. Recent observations have shown that eye neovascularization in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo may represent a novel target for the identification of angiogenesis inhibitors. This review highlights the use of zebrafish embryo as an innovative model system for the screening of anti-angiogenic molecules to be employed for the treatment of angiogenesis-dependent eye diseases.
authors.affiliation: Zebrafish Facility, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rezzola
authors.affiliation: Zebrafish Facility, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paganini
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Semeraro
authors.affiliation: Zebrafish Facility, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: marco.presta@unibs.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Presta
authors.affiliation: Zebrafish Facility, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: chiara.tobia@unibs.it.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tobia
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors
keywords: Angiogenesis; Angiogenesis inhibitors; Embryonic development; Vascular retina diseases; Zebrafish