Menoufia Medical Journal

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2017  |  Volume : 30  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 10--14

Angiogenesis in various endocrinal disorders


Sanna Sayed Gazareen1, Ali Zaki Galal1, Said Sayed Ahmed Khamis1, Menna Allah Khairy Mohammed Rashad2,  
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
2 Department of Internal Medicine, Shebin El-Kom Educational Hospital, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt

Correspondence Address:
Menna Allah Khairy Mohammed Rashad
Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia, 32511
Egypt

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to review the possible role of angiogenesis in the development and/or progression of various endocrinal disorders and its implications. Methods Medline databases and articles available in PubMed, Medscape, and ScienceDirect were searched. The search was performed in 2013, and included all articles with no language restrictions. The initial search presented 150 articles. Among them, ten studies met inclusion criteria. These articles studied the role of angiogenesis in the development and/or progression of various endocrinal disorders and its implications. If the studies did not fulfill inclusion criteria, they were excluded. Study quality assessment included the following – whether ethics approval was gained, had specified eligibility criteria, included appropriate controls, provided adequate information, and defined assessment measures. There was heterogeneity in the collected data, and thus it was not possible to perform a meta-analysis. Significant data were collected, and a structured review was performed. Results The studies review and summarize the role of angiogenesis in the development and/or progression of various endocrinal disorders and its implications. Conclusion We found that the angiogenesis plays an important role in the development and/or progression of various endocrinal disorders, where some endocrinal disorders were characterized or caused by excessive angiogenesis, whereas others were characterized or caused by insufficient angiogenesis. Angiogenesis in endocrinology is a new therapeutic target.



How to cite this article:
Gazareen SS, Galal AZ, Khamis SS, Rashad MA. Angiogenesis in various endocrinal disorders .Menoufia Med J 2017;30:10-14


How to cite this URL:
Gazareen SS, Galal AZ, Khamis SS, Rashad MA. Angiogenesis in various endocrinal disorders . Menoufia Med J [serial online] 2017 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];30:10-14
Available from: http://www.mmj.eg.net/text.asp?2017/30/1/10/211522


Full Text



 Introduction



Angiogenesis – the formation of new blood vessels from pre-exciting vasculature – plays a role in both physiological and pathological events, including wound healing, cancer, and diabetes [1].

Angiogenesis is a multistep process that requires at least four independent events by endothelial cells, including detachment from basement membranes, proliferation, migration, and maturation [2],[3],[4].

Normally these events are regulated tightly by both proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors; however, in pathological events such as diabetes, there is increased synthesis of proangiogenic factors with concomitant downregulation of antiangiogenic molecules. This leads to increased proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, resulting in the formation of immature and leaky vessels [5],[6],[7],[8].

Endocrine glands are typically vascular organs, and their blood supply is essential for normal function and tight control of hormone-feedback loops. In addition to metabolic factors such as hypoxia, the process of angiogenesis is also regulated by hormonal changes such as increased estrogen, insulin-like growth factor, and thyroid stimulating hormone levels [9]. Angiogenesis has been shown to be related to tumor formation, prognosis, and response to treatment in many tumor types [10]. Intratumoral microvessels can be related to tumor behavior or hormone secretion in different endocrine tumors [11],[12]. Several stimulating and inhibiting factors involved in the regulation of angiogenesis have been identified [13]. Among them, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to be critically involved in angiogenesis and also in neovascularization of solid tumors. Dopamine agonists (already in clinical use for prolactinomas) have potent inhibitory actions on VEGF signaling [14], and thus may be a new tool in antiangiogenic therapy. Secretion of VEGF in the great majority of human pituitary adenomas is inhibited by dexamethasone. This suggests that glucocorticoids can be considered for the treatment of certain pituitary tumors. The cyclic nature of angiogenesis in the female reproductive tract indicates that stimulation or inhibition of paracrine angiogenic factors may lead to new approaches for being able to influence reproductive endocrine disorders. Experimental and clinical aspects of interactions between angiogenic factors and tumor growth of the endocrine system are also discussed [15].

It has been demonstrated that delivery of angiogenesis factors and augmentation of angiogenesis response can be therapeutic to promote recovery. Conversely, in chronic disease such as atherosclerosis and chronic allograft vasculopathy, persistent angiogenesis promotes the ongoing recruitment of inflammatory cells, which in turn sustains the angiogenesis reaction. In this scenario, it has been proposed that antiangiogenesis therapy can attenuate disease and is therapeutic [16].

 Materials and Methods



Search strategy

We reviewed articles on the role of angiogenesis in the endocrinal system and in disorders from Medline databases including PubMed, Medscape, and ScienceDirect and also materials available on the internet. We used angiogenesis/antiangiogenesis/endocrinal system/endocrinal disorders, and hormones as the search terms. The search was performed in 2013, and included all articles that were published. There was no language restriction.

Study selection

All the studies were independently assessed for inclusion. They were included if they fulfilled the following criteria:

Published in peer-reviewed journalsDefined angiogenesis, angiogenic growth factors, pathogenesis, and the role of pathogenesis in health and diseaseDiscussed the role of angiogenesis in the development and/or progression of various endocrinal disorders and its implicationsIf a study had several publications on certain aspects, we used the latest publication providing the most relevant dataArticles in languages other than English were translated.

Data extraction

If the studies did not fulfill the above-mentioned criteria, they were excluded – for example, articles or reports not peer-reviewed. Data from each eligible study were independently abstracted in duplicate using a data collection form to capture information on study characteristics, interventions, and quantitative results reported for each outcome of interest.

There was heterogeneity in the collected data, and thus we were not able to perform a meta-analysis. Significant data were collected, and a structured review was performed with the results tabulated.

Quality assessment

The quality of all the studies was assessed. Important factors included study design, attainment of ethics approval, evidence of a power calculation, specified eligibility criteria, appropriate controls, adequate information, and specified assessment measures.

Data synthesis

There was heterogeneity in the collected data, and thus we were not able to perform a meta-analysis. Significant data were collected.

 Results



Study selection and characteristics

A total of 10 studies were selected. The studies were deemed eligible if they fulfilled inclusion criteria. There was a high degree of heterogeneity regarding the implications of angiogenesis in endocrinal disorders.

 Discussion



Angiogenesis is the process of new blood vessel development from pre-existing vasculature. Although the vascular endothelium is usually quiescent in the adult, active angiogenesis has been shown to be an important process for new vessel formation, tumor growth, progression, and spread.

The angiogenic phenotype depends on the balance of proangiogenic growth factors such as VEGF and inhibitors, as well as interactions with the extracellular matrix, allowing endothelial migration.

In healthy individuals, angiogenesis is a feature of a limited number of physiological processes such as during ovulation, development of the corpus luteum, embryogenesis, lactation, during immune response, during inflammation, and wound repair. VEGF-A, a potent proangiogenic factor, is involved in the development of the kidneys and also plays an important role in maintaining the glomerular capillary structure. It is also involved in the repair process following injuries of glomerular endothelial cells and peritubular capillaries [17].

Imbalance in angiogenic response either due to the overproduction of normal forms of angiogenic mediators [Table 1] or due to a relative deficiency in inhibitors results in a large number of pathological conditions such as heart and brain ischemia, hypertension, osteoporosis, respiratory diseases, and many other diseases [Table 2] [19].{Table 1}{Table 2}

The endocrine system controls ductless glands that secrete hormones within specific organs. By acting systemically, hormones coordinate and integrate angiogenesis with other functions throughout the body. They also regulate blood vessel growth by controlling the production of local chemical mediators, often other hormones, but also growth factors, cytokines, enzymes, receptors, adhesion molecules, and metabolic factors, by vascular endothelial cells and other cells within the vicinity of capillaries. Notably, hormones can acquire angiogenic or antiangiogenic properties after undergoing proteolytic cleavage within the tissue microenvironment. Proteolytic cleavage is a mechanism used frequently to generate proangiogenic and antiangiogenic protein mediators at specific sites. Thyroid hormones – 3,5,3'-triiodo-l-thyronine (T3) and l-thyroxine (T4) – are important regulators of differentiation, growth, metabolism, and physiological function in most tissues [20],[21].

Thyroid hormones have also been implicated in cellular transformation, tumorigenesis, and metastasis, assuming particular importance in tumor-induced angiogenesis [22]. In adults, angiogenesis occurs in the thyroid gland during disease processes including goiter, Graves' disease, thyroiditis, and cancer [23],[24]. Members of the growth hormone/prolactin/placental lactogen family [25],[26], the renin–angiotensin system, and the kallikrein–kinin system regulate the physiology of reproductive organs, and some of their actions involve the control of blood vessel growth and regression. The angiogenic and antiangiogenic actions of members of the growth hormone/prolactin/placental lactogen family, the renin–angiotensin system, and the kallikrein–kinin system have been linked to both, reflecting the predominance of naturally occurring inhibitors able to counterbalance the effects of relatively abundant proangiogenic mediators. The study of this tight control of angiogenesis is particularly attractive in tissues such as the retina and cartilage, which are partially or totally devoid of blood vessels, respectively, and where damage to the mechanisms regulating angiogenesis contributes to the development of vasoproliferative retinopathies and arthritis.

The induction of new blood vessel formation by delivering angiogenic genes to ischemic tissues continues to appear as a promising, alternative strategy to currently available therapies [27]. In aspiring to induce therapeutic angiogenesis, the members of the VEGF family have long been recognized as major molecular tools [28].

In diabetes, angiogenesis is disturbed, contributing to proliferative retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, atherosclerosis, and impaired wound healing. In diabetic retinopathy, the balance between VEGF and angiogenic inhibitors may determine the proliferation of angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy. As VEGF-A is a powerful angiogenic inducer, utilizing anti-VEGF treatments has proved to be a successful protocol in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy [29],[30].

The measurement of angiogenesis may facilitate therapeutic decision making, for example, determining tumors that are likely to behave aggressively, and therefore require close follow-up or subsequent radiotherapy.

There are many angiogenesis inhibitors that have been investigated in clinical trials (mainly phase I/II), and an understanding of angiogenesis may enable the use of angiogenesis inhibitors as therapy for endocrine tumors, for example, synthetic matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors for aggressive tumors or tyrosine kinase inhibitors to inhibit VEGF signaling [31],[32],[33],[34],[35],[36],[37].

The use of angiogenesis inhibitors is not without risk. Sorafenib – an antiangiogenic agent – causes a unique combination of acute thrombotic microangiopathy and minimal change disease, resulting in renal failure and nephrotic syndrome [38].

 Conclusion



Angiogenesis is a normal physiological process that is tightly regulated by a dynamic balance between proangiogenic and antiangiogenic molecules.

The definition of genetic steps determining different angiogenic phenotypes, and therefore tumor progression, might increase our understanding of neoplastic progression and also allow measurement of markers of aggressive tumor behavior, initiation of appropriate therapy, and monitoring of tumor behavior.

Although antiangiogenic therapies have shown promising results from preclinical and clinical studies, many aspects of angiogenesis and antiangiogenic therapy remain to be further considered to overcome existing hurdles.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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