The process
Existing vessels are destabilised, endothelial cells migrate and proliferate toward a signal, form a tube, and the new vessel is stabilised by supporting cells. Each stage is separately regulated, and a compound can affect one without affecting the others.
Signalling
Vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors are the principal drivers, with nitric oxide, fibroblast growth factors and matrix remodelling all participating. Because matrix must be degraded for vessels to advance, angiogenesis and matrix research overlap.
Common assays
Endothelial cell migration and tube formation in culture, and vessel outgrowth in tissue explants. These measure distinct steps, so results across assays are not interchangeable — which is worth knowing when a compound is described simply as "promoting angiogenesis".
Research use only. This page is explanatory and does not recommend any use, quantity or procedure. REVIVE LAB supplies reference materials for laboratory research. These are not medicines and are not for human or veterinary consumption. Anyone considering the use of any compound in humans should do so only under qualified medical supervision.