Angeiosis is a complex medical term that refers to the formation of new blood vessels, also known as neovascularization. It is a physiological process that occurs during tissue repair, wound healing, and certain pathological conditions. The word "angeiosis" is derived from the Greek words "angeion," meaning vessel, and "genesis," meaning creation or formation.
In normal circumstances, angeiosis is tightly regulated to ensure adequate blood supply to tissues and maintain a proper balance between vessel formation and regression. However, in pathological conditions such as cancer, diabetic retinopathy, or ischemic heart disease, angeiosis can become dysregulated and excessive vessel growth can occur.
Numerous signal molecules and growth factors play essential roles in the process of angeiosis. These molecules activate endothelial cells, the cells that line the interior of blood vessels, promoting their proliferation, migration, and differentiation. This process leads to the sprouting and elongation of new blood vessels from preexisting ones, forming a network of capillaries that supply nutrients and oxygen to the affected tissue.
While angeiosis plays a crucial role in tissue repair and regeneration, its dysregulation can contribute to the progression of diseases such as cancer, where tumors can hijack the angeiotic process to ensure their own blood supply and facilitate metastasis. Due to its involvement in various diseases, angeiosis represents a potential therapeutic target for the development of anti-angeiogenic therapies, aimed at inhibiting the excessive growth of blood vessels in pathological conditions.
