VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR AND RETINAL NEOVASCULARIZATION - ANEW THERAPEUTIC APPROACH FOR DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY

Since the pioneer work of Michaelson in 1947 reporting that retinal is chemia induces the release of soluble angiogenic compounds, numerous s tudies have been conducted to identify the molecular structure or such messengers. In the early 1980s, tile deciphering of angiogenic factor -signaling pathways and their description in the retina focused attent ion on growth factors. Vascular endothelial growth factor, the major c andidate identified in 1992, induces in vivo angiogenesis and vascular permeability. Its expression is enhanced in vitro by hypoxia and hypo glycaemia; and its immunoreactivity is increased in diabetic patients. A decrease in its bioavailability reduces the intensity of neovascula rization.