Int. J. Dev. Biol. 55: 343 - 344 (2011)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.103211dr

Vol 55, Issue 4-5

Special Issue: Angiogenesis in Development & Cancer

Angiogenesis in Development and Cancer Today

Open Access | Editorial | Published: 24 June 2011

Domenico Ribatti¹ and Valentin Djonov²

¹Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy and ²Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Abstract

The cardiovascular system plays a crucial role in vertebrate development and homeostasis. During embryonic development, vasculature is formed by both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Vasculogenesis, which consists of de novo vessel formation from angioblasts, provides the nascent vascular network, particularly during early embryonic life. Angiogenesis, which refers to expansion of a pre-existing vascular bed through sprouting, bridging and intussusceptive growth, intervenes mostly during later stages of embryogenesis. Recent experimental studies have demonstrated that bone-marrow-derived stem and endothelial progenitor cells can in principle contribute to tissue repair by induction of neo-angiogenesis.

Keywords

angiogenesis, development, cancer, special issue, preface