Nerve growth factor-endothelial cell interaction leads to angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo

Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays important functionsduring embryonic development and on various tissuesand organs under normal and pathological conditions.Recently, NGF has also been reported to modulateangiogenesis in the developing CNS. The present workaddressed possible specific receptor-mediated, angiogeniceffects of NGF in vitro in human umbilical veinendothelial cells (HUVEC) and in vivo in the chickembryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The studywas aimed to unravel mechanisms of NGF-dependentangiogenesis, providing potential tools for novel therapeuticapproaches in antiangiogenic therapy.