vaatgroeifactor
Vaatgroeifactor, in Dutch, refers to any molecule or signal that promotes the growth of blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. These factors stimulate endothelial cells to proliferate, migrate and form new vascular structures. Vaatgroeifactoren are relevant in normal physiology such as development, wound healing and response to ischemia, as well as in pathological conditions where aberrant vessel growth occurs.
Most well-known vaatgroeifactoren are pro-angiogenic proteins that interact with specific receptors on endothelial cells. The vascular
Regulation of vaatgroeifactoren is tightly controlled. Hypoxia commonly upregulates VEGF expression through hypoxia-inducible factors, while inflammatory
Clinical and research relevance is substantial. Tumors often exploit vaatgroeifactor signaling to secure a blood supply,