Angiogenesis and wound repair: when enough is enough

All animals heal, and the ability to heal is requisite for human health. One aspect of repair that has always been considered to be essential for adequate healing is the creation of a new vasculature via angiogenesis. As adult skin wounds heal, a period of rapid and robust capillary growth creates a vascular bed that has many fold more capillaries than does normal tissue. Over time, most of the newly formed capillaries regress, resulting in a final vascular density similar to that of normal skin. Certainly, new capillaries are necessary to bring nutrients, immune cells, and oxygen to healing wounds. Yet, the presumed functional importance of an overabundance of capillaries has recently been challenged,…

• SF
  Society for Leukocyte Biology
• NI
  National Institutes of Health
• NI
  National Institute of General Medical Sciences

  Award: R01-GM50875
• NI
  National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

  Award: R21-DE025926