Regulation of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis

This chapter covers the two major processes involved in the development of blood vessels in embryos and adults: vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, respectively. Vasculogenesis refers to the de novo formation of blood vessels from endothelial progenitors or angioblasts and was believed to be restricted to embryogenesis. The dogma that postnatal neovascularization resulted exclusively from angiogenesis - the proliferation, migration, and remodeling from preexisting blood vessels - was challenged in 1997 with the identification of adult circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). These findings have important implications not only for a better understanding of the vascular system but also for regenerative medicine since these circulating endothelial progenitors could potentially be useful in the treatment of ischemic conditions.