Have you ever wondered how many amazing things and complex processes take place inside our bodies? Sometimes, even a small wound heals on its own in a few days. Every cell and tissue in our body receives the oxygen and nutrients it needs. A very important and special process that helps with all of this, but that we don't talk about much in our daily lives, constantly occurs inside our bodies. That's what we call angiogenesis in medicine. Simply put, this is the formation of new, very fine blood vessels, or capillaries , from the old blood vessels that are already in our bodies. This is like the formation of new side roads from an old road.
What is Angiogenesis?
This process called angiogenesis is truly essential to our lives. It starts before we are even born, that is, while we are still in the womb, and it happens more or less throughout our lives. Imagine that you have a wound on your arm or leg. It will start to heal in a few days, right? The formation of these new blood vessels helps a lot in that healing process. The oxygen and nutrition needed for new cells to grow at the site of the wound and for the wound to heal quickly are provided through these newly formed capillaries.
These capillaries are like a network of tiny pipes spread throughout our bodies. These are what carry blood, nutrients, and oxygen to our organs and tissues. Now imagine, if for some reason the tissues in a certain part of our body do not receive enough oxygen, that is, if a condition called `(Hypoxia)` occurs , the cells there start to emit special chemical signals, like an `SOS` message, saying, "Help us! We are not getting enough oxygen!". When that signal is received, the process of `Angiogenesis` begins. This is helped by a special type of cell that lines the inside of our blood vessels. We call them `(Endothelial cells)` . These cells are the ones that start to form new capillaries.
There are two main ways in which angiogenesis occurs:
The formation of these new blood vessels can occur in two main ways. Let's take a look at what they are.
Sprouting Angiogenesis
This is one way. What happens here is that small "sprouts" made of endothelial cells grow out of an existing blood vessel and gradually grow to the point where they are receiving signals that there is less oxygen. This is like a small plant coming out of the ground and stretching its branches towards the light. There are special chemical stimuli that help this growth. For example, a chemical called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is very important for this. The new blood vessels that form in this way can supply blood to tissue parts that previously had no blood supply.
Intussusceptive Angiogenesis
The other way is this. Instead of branching out like that, an existing blood vessel splits in two and forms a new capillary. It's like dividing in two at once. Instead of the endothelial cells growing out of the blood vessel, they enter the lumen of the blood vessel and form little pillars. Those pillars are what give rise to the new capillary branches. This may seem a little complicated, but this is another important way of forming new blood vessels.
Difference between Angiogenesis and Vasculogenesis
You've probably heard both of these terms. Angiogenesis and vasculogenesis both refer to the formation of new blood vessels in our bodies. But there's a slight difference.
The difference is the type of cells that give rise to new blood vessels.
- In vasculogenesis, new blood vessels are formed from a special type of cell called angioblasts . These angioblasts are cells that have not yet fully matured and are about to become endothelial cells. This occurs mainly during the embryonic stage, that is, when we are in the womb.
- In angiogenesis, new capillaries are formed from old blood vessels that are already in our bodies, lined with endothelial cells . As mentioned, these endothelial cells are what move, multiply, and form new capillaries.
Simply put, vasculogenesis is the formation of a new blood vessel from scratch, while angiogenesis is the branching out of an existing one.
Is angiogenesis really a good thing or a bad thing?
Now you might be wondering if this angiogenesis is a good thing or a bad thing. Actually, it can be good or bad . It depends on who is being fed by the new blood vessels that are forming.
In normal health, our bodies need new blood vessels. This is because our tissues and organs need to receive enough oxygen and nutrients. This angiogenesis is essential for many things, such as healing wounds, growing muscles during exercise, and providing nutrition to the fetus during pregnancy. So, in general, this is a very important process that is indispensable to our lives.
However, this process called angiogenesis can sometimes be harmful to us. Do you know how? That is, when it helps the growth and spread of cancerous tumors inside our bodies.
Let's look at it in a little more detail now.
How does angiogenesis work in cancer?
Cancer is when some cells in our body start to divide and grow rapidly and uncontrollably. These uncontrolled dividing cells form tumors . These tumors, like other healthy tissues in our body, need a constant blood supply to survive, grow, and spread from one part of the body to another.
So, these cancer cells, in a very clever way, release chemical signals to start the process of angiogenesis that I mentioned earlier, to get the blood they need. Just like healthy cells ask for oxygen.
At this point, angiogenesis is very harmful to us. Because the cancerous tumor gets oxygen and nutrition from the newly formed blood vessels. Then the tumor grows even faster, and the cancer cells can travel to other parts of the body through those new blood vessels and form new tumors there too. That's why angiogenesis is said to be associated with cancer. Cancer uses this natural process to its advantage.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors Used to Treat Cancer
Medical researchers have realized that if they can stop the process of angiogenesis, which supplies blood to cancerous tumors, they can control the growth of cancer. That is why special drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors have been developed.
These drugs work by interfering in various ways with the process of forming new blood vessels that supply blood to cancerous tumors.
- Some drugs block the chemical signals (e.g., VEGF) that cancer cells release. Just like static on a phone call makes it difficult to understand, these drugs stop the communication between cells.
- Some other drugs stop the growth and movement of endothelial cells.
When the blood supply to the cancer is cut off in this way, the cancer is deprived of the oxygen and nutrients it needs. The cancer cells then die, or the tumor stops growing or shrinks.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several types of angiogenesis inhibitors for cancer treatment. Scientists are still working to improve these drugs and make them more effective. If you have any questions about these drugs or cancer treatment, it's best to ask your doctor.
Finally, things for you to remember (Take-Home Message)
Angiogenesis is a very complex and amazing process that occurs inside our bodies, at a level that can only be seen through a microscope. Because we can't see it with our own eyes, we can sometimes forget that these things are happening in our bodies.
However, knowing a little about the processes that occur inside our bodies can be very helpful in understanding if you develop a medical condition, gaining insight into the treatments offered by doctors, and making decisions about your health.
Remember, while angiogenesis is normally a beneficial and essential process for our bodies, it can turn harmful in conditions like cancer. That's why it's important to be aware of this.
If you want to know more about this, don't hesitate to talk to your family doctor. They will explain these things to you in a simpler way. Stay healthy!
` Angiogenesis, angiogenesis, blood vessels, capillaries, cancer, cancer treatment, cells, how the body works
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