The controls of microvascular survival

The regulation of microvascular survival impacts both developmental remodel ing of the vasculature, and various microvascular pathologies. In pathologi cal settings of vascular insufficiency, molecular targets to affect stabili zation of neovascularization are needed. Conversely, an important part of a nti-tumor angiogenesis is the de-stabilization of the tumor vasculature. In the study of vascular remodeling, one difficult challenge is to understand the molecular controls that allow regression of one entire vessel segment and not another. This phenomenon requires coordination of the survival sign aling pathways to successfully impact vascular structure. This review descr ibes the known mechanisms and molecules involved in microvascular and endot helial cell survival. In particular the mechanisms of molecular signaling f or survival in vitro are discussed in light of what is known about microvas cular survival in vivo. Possible ways to bring these data together to expla in the complex regulation of vessel survival are discussed.