Overview

Angiogenesis is a multistep process, which involves activation, proliferation and directed migration of endothelial cells to form new capillaries from existing vessels. Under physiological conditions, in the adult organisms angiogenesis is extremely slow, yet it can be activated for a limited time only in situations such as ovulation or wound healing. In a number of disease states, however, there is a derangement of angiogenesis, which can contribute to the pathology of these conditions. Hence, understanding the molecular biology of endothelial cell activation and differentiation and the mechanisms involved in the regulation of angiogenesis, could explain the derangement in disease states and also provide the basis for developing promoters or suppressors of angiogenesis for clinical applications. This book contains the proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Angiogenesis: Molecular Biology, Oinical Aspects" held in Rhodes, Greece, from June 16-27, 1993. This meeting was a comprehensive review of the various aspects of angiogenesis such as embryonic development, endothelial cell heterogeneity and tissue specificity, molecular biology of endothelial cell, mechanisms for the regulation of angiogenesis, disease states in which angiogenesis is involved and potential application of promoters or suppressors of angiogenesis. The presentations and discussions of the meeting provided an opportunity for investigators from many different areas of basic science and medicine to exchange information, evaluate the present status and provide future research directions in the field of angiogenesis.