Most importantly, says Simons, the newly formed vessels were fully functional. PR39 achieves this affect by a new mechanism. A combination of VEGF and FGF has been shown to be much more effective in inducing angiogenesis than either group alone, says Simons, also an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. This unique mechanism of action makes the peptide and its derivatives potentially attractive tools for stimulation of therapeutic angiogenesis in various diseases, including coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease. Because PR39 is secreted by white blood cells known as macrophages, this newly discovered mechanism may also link two physiological processes that naturally culminate in limited angiogenesis.
Angiogenesis is also a prominent feature of tissue repair and inflammation.
For example, experimental laser therapy in the heart is believed to work because the resulting inflammation stimulates angiogenesis. This study links two processes that culminate in angiogenesis, providing a better understanding of the biology. It also identifies a molecule that activates multiple growth factor pathways, which may be more potent than a single growth factor. In other research on therapeutic angiogenesis, scientists have focused on individual growth factors that augment the body's limited natural response to grow new vessels. More than a dozen biotech and drug firms and a handful of device companies are testing different growth factors and delivery systems in hopes of eventually complementing, delaying or even replacing angioplasty and bypass surgery.