Brian H. Annex, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.H.A
November 6 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Altered Endothelial Metabolism: An Unrecognized Driver of, and Therapeutic Target for, Peripheral Artery Disease
Angiogenesis is the growth and proliferation of blood vessels from existing vascular structures. Angiogenesis occurs in a host of situations ranging from physiologic conditions (i.e. exercise) to pathologic (tumors and retinopathy). Finally, promoting angiogenesis for clinical gain has been attempted across scores of trials and thousands of patients without clinical success. Angiogenesis is most often studied from the perspective of ligand-receptor interactions. Recent studies from our, and other laboratories, have shown that blood vessels within ischemic muscle of patients with most severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD) take on tumor like characteristics. Glycolysis drives tumor angiogenesis as well as blood vessel growth within ischemic muscle. Data will be presented showing that the metabolism (energy generating) pathway used by the endothelial cells plays a critical role in the generation of leaky vs. functional blood vessels within ischemic muscle. Favoring the use of alternative metabolism pathways in ECs may well hold the key for achieving therapeutic, medical, revascularization in PAD.
J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Distinguished University Chair in Vascular Medicine, Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, GA