For patients with advanced vascular disease, improving the efficacy of arteriogenesis may provide an alternative to invasive bypass surgery. Ren et al. discovered that shifting the balance between extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt1, two crucial signaling arms that are activated by VEGF, stimulates arterial growth in mouse and zebrafish models of vascular disease. ERK1/2 is highly activated in growing arteries. This is in contrast to the PI3K-Akt1 pathway, which is thought to have an arterial stabilizing effect. In mice and zebrafish with decreased VEGF responsiveness and ERK1/2 activity, researchers restored ERK1/2 activation by downregulating PI3K-Akt1 activity or by introducing a constitutively activating ERK1/2. Both approaches stimulate arterial development. Inhibiting the PI3K-Akt1 pathway in an atherosclerotic mouse model effectively stimulated arterial formation. Thus, the PI3K-Akt1 pathway is a potential drug target for vascular disease.
Vascular disease: a novel molecular method for blood vessel formation
Vascular disease: a novel molecular method for blood vessel formation. Dis Model Mech 28 April 2010; 3 (5-6): 256. doi:
Download citation file:
Advertisement
Cited by
DMM Journal Meeting 2023: Infectious Diseases Through an Evolutionary Lens

The abstract submission deadline for our 2023 Journal Meeting ‘Infectious Diseases Through an Evolutionary Lens’ is 14 July 2023. Find out more and register here.
The Forest of Biologists

The Forest of Biologists is a biodiversity initiative created by The Company of Biologists, with support from the Woodland Trust. For every Research and Review article published in Disease Models & Mechanisms a native tree is planted in a UK forest. In addition to this we are protecting and restoring ancient woodland and are dedicating these trees to our peer reviewers. Visit our virtual forest to learn more.
Propose a new Workshop for 2025

Do you have an idea for a Workshop? If so, click here. We are now accepting proposals for our 2025 Workshops programme. As the scientific organiser, your involvement will be focused on the science. We'll take care of all the logistics. In 2025 we'll continue our efforts to diversify our Workshop programme and will be reserving one of our Workshops for an application from a Global South country to host an event overseas.
How stromal cells restrict liver cancer invasion

In our recent editor’s choice, Liqin Zhu and colleagues describe how they used in vitro liver spheroid models consisting of both parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells to reveal a hepatoprotective role for peritumoral hepatic stellate cells in liver tumorigenesis.
And from perspective… Hacking haematopoiesis – emerging tools for examining variant effects

Thousands of genomic loci have been linked to hematopoietic traits and diseases, yet many await functional validation. Michael Gundry and Vijay G. Sankaran discuss recent advances in genome editing and the challenges associated with using these techniques to assess variant function in primary hematopoietic cells. a celebration of the achievements of female scientists, and a call to action for a culture shift in science.
Other journals from
The Company of Biologists