Search results for "Vascular endothelial growth factor"

Early OCTA Changes of Type 3 Macular Neovascularization Following Brolucizumab Intravitreal Injections

2022

Background and Objectives: Brolucizumab is a novel anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), whose efficacy has been shown in the Hawk and Harrier phase 3 clinical studies. The goal of the present case series is to report initial results of brolucizumab intravitreal injections (IVI) on type 3 neovascularization in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Materials and Methods: This is a bicentric retrospective case series. Patients with newly diagnosed type 3 MNV treated with brolucizumab IVI and at least 6 months follow-up were enrolled. OCTA en face images and B-scans were analyzed for lesions at baseline, 1 m…

VEGF-B as a target for cancer therapy : characterization of monoclonal antibodies towards VEGF-B and generation of VEGF-B expressing tumour cell lines

2007

VEGF and Notch Signaling in Angiogenesis

2015

The vascular system is responsible for providing every cell in vertebrate organisms with a sufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients, allowing waste disposal as well as transmitting immune responses among other functions. Thus, every tissue and organ requires an efficient network of blood vessels, which can be formed de novo (vasculogenesis) or from existing vessels (angiogenesis). The onset of the latter, namely endothelial cell (EC) sprouting, is the focus of this chapter. EC sprouting starts with the differentiation of ECs into guiding tip cells and proliferative stalk cells that form the growing sprout and it ends with the so-called anastomosis, when the sprout fuses with another sprout…

Semaphorin 4D cooperates with VEGF to promote angiogenesis and tumor progression

2012

The semaphorins and plexins comprise a family of cysteine-rich proteins implicated in control of nerve growth and development and regulation of the immune response. Our group and others have found that Semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D) and its receptor, Plexin-B1, play an important role in tumor-induced angiogenesis, with some neoplasms producing SEMA4D in a manner analogous to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in order to attract Plexin-B1-expressing endothelial cells into the tumor for the purpose of promoting growth and vascularity. While anti-VEGF strategies have been the focus of most angiogenesis inhibition research, such treatment can lead to upregulation of pro-angiogenic factors that …

2012

Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide and angiogenesis is critical in cancer progression. Development of new blood vessels and nutrition of tumor cells are heavily dependent on angiogenesis. Thus, angiogenesis inhibition might be a promising approach for anticancer therapy. Anti-angiogenic small molecule and phytochemicals as a cancer treatment approach are focused in these main points; modes of action, adverse effects, mechanisms of resistance and new developments. Treatment with anti-angiogenic compounds might be advantageous over conventional chemotherapy due to the fact that those compounds mainly act on endothelial cells, which are genetically more stable and homogenous compared t…

Early implant healing: promotion of platelet activation and cytokine release by topographical, chemical and biomimetical titanium surface modificatio…

2011

Abstract Objectives: Platelet releasate has been shown to promote osteogenetic cell proliferation and differentiation. Topography and chemistry of biomaterials have high impact on platelet activation. More specifically, the bioactive cell adhesive peptide sequence Arg–Gly–Asp (RGD) triggers platelet activation mediated by the αIIbβ3 integrin receptor. Accordingly, topographical, chemical and biomimetical (immobilized RGD peptide) modifications of titanium (Ti) surfaces may enhance early platelet activation and bony healing of implants. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate platelet activation with subsequent platelet-derived cytokine release by accordingly modified Ti surfaces. Ma…

Intravitreal dexamethasone as an enhancer for the anti-VEGF treatment in neovascular ARMD: recovering an old ally

2010

Diabetic Retinopathy and Oxidative Stress

2014

Abstract Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of acquired blindness in working age adults worldwide. Biochemical changes in DR contribute to both the microscopic structural and functional changes in the retina. All these alterations result in macroscopic retinal damage that can be assessed by funduscopy. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the mitochondria is considered a causal link between elevated glucose and biochemical abnormalities in the pathophysiology of DR. Moreover, oxidatively induced pathways also seem to provide positive feedback to ROS production, resulting in a vicious cycle. ROS can directly damage lipids, proteins and DNA, leading to cell death…

Targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor system to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

2008

BACKGROUND: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) typically occurs when ovaries are primed with FSH/ LH and subsequently exposed to hCG. The ultimate pathophysiological step underlying this clinical picture is increased vascular permeability (VP). METHODS: A search of the literature was carried out using PubMed and the authors’ files. RESULTS: In rodents and humans, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) mRNA increases during ovarian stimulation. With the administration of hCG, the expression of each rises to a maximum. Expression of VEGF/VEGFR-2 mRNAs correlates with enhanced VP, with both peaking 48 h following an injection of hCG. Imm…

Angiopoietin-2 plasma dosage predicts time to first treatment and overall survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

2010

Abstract The clinical relevance of angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was previously suggested by the association between high Ang2, and shorter progression-free survival reported in small series of patients. Here, we evaluated Ang2 glycoprotein levels in plasma samples collected from a multicentric cohort of CLL patients (n = 316) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and we investigated its prognostic role in relation to time to first treatment (TTFT) and overall survival. Based on a cutoff equal to 2459 pg/mL, we divided our cohort in 2 subsets (high and low Ang2) composing 100 (31.6%) and 216 (68.4%) patients, respectively. High Ang2 was predictive …