Have you ever had a small wound, and it dried up in a few days, and healed perfectly as if nothing had happened? You must have, right? At that time, we only think that the wound has healed. But we never think about the amazing things that happen inside our bodies to heal that wound. Today, we are going to talk about a strange process that constantly happens inside our bodies, is essential to our survival, and sometimes even makes us laugh. We call this angiogenesis.
Simply put, what is angiogenesis?
Very simple. Angiogenesis is the process of using the blood vessels that are already in our bodies to create new, tiny blood vessels (capillaries). This starts before we are born, in our mother's womb, and continues for as long as we live.
Now you might be wondering what these tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, do. In fact, these tiny blood vessels perform one of the most important functions in our bodies. They act as a 'delivery service' that carries the blood, nutrients, and oxygen our organs and tissues need.
Imagine that somewhere in our body, the tissues are not getting enough oxygen. We call this condition hypoxia. When there is not enough oxygen, the cells in that area panic and start emitting chemical signals saying, "Help us! There is not enough oxygen here!" It's like sending an 'SOS' message. As soon as this 'SOS' message is received, the cells that make up the inner wall of our blood vessels, called endothelial cells, are activated and start making new blood vessels. This is the beginning of the process of angiogenesis.
How do these new blood vessels form? There are two main ways!
Our body uses two main methods to form new blood vessels. Let's look at these details to understand the difference between the two.
| Method name | How it happens | Simply put... |
|---|---|---|
| Sprouting Angiogenesis | A new sprout grows out of an existing blood vessel. This sprout gradually grows toward the chemical signal (e.g., a chemical called VEGF) coming from the oxygen-poor area. Eventually, it becomes a complete new blood vessel. | It's like a new branch sprouting from the trunk of a tree. A new one emerges from the old one and grows. |
| Intussusceptive Angiogenesis | New shoots do not sprout here. Instead, a single blood vessel splits down the middle, becoming two blood vessels. Endothelial cells come inside the blood vessel and form columns, dividing it in two. | It's like building two roads by putting a ditch in the middle of a road. The only one that exists is divided into two. |
So is this the same as Vasculogenesis?
No. While these two words may sound similar, there is a small but important difference. Both involve the formation of new blood vessels. But the difference lies in the type of cells that start them.
- Angiogenesis: This is where new blood vessels form from existing, fully grown blood vessels.
- Vasculogenesis: This is where new blood vessels are formed from a special type of cell called an angioblast. These are immature cells that have not yet fully developed into the cells that line the walls of blood vessels.
Simply put, angiogenesis is like building a new room in an old house. Vasculogenesis is like building a house from scratch with a brand new foundation and new bricks.
So, is this angiogenesis a good thing or a bad thing?
This is really a double-edged sword. Whether this is good or bad depends on who is fed by the newly formed blood vessels.
How does angiogenesis get better?
In a healthy body, this process is essential for our survival.
- Wounds heal: When you cut your hand, new blood vessels form around the wound, providing it with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. That's why wounds heal quickly.
- During pregnancy: The developing baby in the mother's womb receives all the nutrition and oxygen it needs through the placenta. This placenta needs new blood vessels to function properly.
- During exercise: When we exercise, our muscles need more oxygen. This process helps to meet that need.
- During the menstrual cycle in women: This process is also essential for the walls of the uterus to rebuild.
At times like these, angiogenesis is like a hero who helps save our lives and keep us healthy.
The dark side of this process - how to help cancer
This process itself can also be our enemy. That is, when it helps cancer cells grow.
We all know that cancer is when cells in our body start dividing uncontrollably, like crazy. These dividing cells clump together to form tumors. Like all other tissues in our body, these tumors need food, water, and a blood supply to survive, grow, and spread throughout the body.
What's happening here is very clever. Cancer cells, just like healthy tissue, start releasing these 'SOS' chemical signals (like VEGF). These signals say, "We're not getting enough blood, send new blood vessels here quickly!"
Upon receiving this signal, our body's angiogenesis process kicks in and begins to grow new blood vessels toward the tumor. In other words, cancer 'hijacks' a natural process in our own body.
These new blood vessels provide the tumor with a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients. As a result, the tumor grows faster and faster. What's even more dangerous is that cancer cells can travel along these new blood vessels and begin to metastasize to other parts of the body.
That's why we say that the process called angiogenesis can be dangerous in cancer. It's like feeding our enemy, feeding him.
Can't this be stopped? Let's talk about Angiogenesis Inhibitors
Once scientists understood the insidious nature of these tumors, they began to look for a solution. One of the results of that research was a class of drugs called Angiogenesis Inhibitors .
The main thing these drugs do is cut off the blood supply to the cancer. It's like starving an enemy to death.
These drugs work in several ways. One major way is by blocking the communication between the cancer's 'SOS' chemical signal and the blood vessels that receive it. Just as static interrupts a phone call, these drugs block the cancer's message from reaching the blood vessels. This stops new blood vessels from forming, depriving the cancer of the nutrients it needs, and slowing its growth.
Today, a number of angiogenesis inhibitor drugs have been approved by agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of cancer. They have become a very important part of cancer treatment.
If you or someone you know has cancer and has any questions about this treatment, the best and most appropriate person to talk to is your treating doctor . It is very important to seek advice from a doctor who knows your condition best, rather than relying on the internet or other sources.
Angiogenesis is a microscopic process that we cannot see with our eyes, but it is a great example of how amazing our bodies work. Knowing this about our bodies, diseases, and treatments can help us make better decisions about our health.
Take-Home Message
- Angiogenesis is the natural process of forming new blood vessels from existing blood vessels in our body.
- This process is essential for the body's healthy functioning during times such as wound healing and pregnancy.
- However, this very process can be dangerous because it provides cancer cells with nutrition and oxygen, helping them grow and spread throughout the body.
- Angiogenesis inhibitors are a new class of drugs that treat cancer by blocking the blood supply to tumors.
- Being aware of how your body works can help you better understand your health. If you have any concerns about any medical condition or treatment, talk to your doctor.
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