Vascular Progenitor Cells: From Cancer to Tissue Repair

Abstract

Vascular progenitor cells are activated to repair and form a neointima following vascular damage such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, trauma, hypoxia, primary cancerous lesions and metastases as well as catheter interventions. They play a key role not only in the resolution of the vascular lesion but also in the adult neovascularization and angiogenesis sprouting (i.e., the growth of new capillaries from pre-existing ones), often associated with carcinogenesis, favoring the formation of metastases, survival and progression of tumors. In this review, we discuss the biology, cellular plasticity and pathophysiology of different vascular progenitor cells, including their origins (sources), stimuli and activated pathways that induce differentiation, isolation and characterization. We focus on their role in tumor-induced vascular injury and discuss their implications in promoting tumor angiogenesis during cancer proliferation and migration.

Emerging role of exosome-derived non-coding RNAs in tumor-associated angiogenesis of tumor microenvironment

“…ECs are involved in tumor growth, tumor-induced angiogenesis, and vascular secretory functions for self-renewal and differentiation after trauma and thrombosis (Barachini et al, 2023). Angiogenesis plays an important role in all stages of cancer development (Aguilar-Cazares et al, 2019).…”

Vascular Stem Cells and the Role of B-Raf Kinase in Survival, Proliferation, and Apoptosis

“…At present, it is believed that there is a population of VSCs in vessel walls [ 5 , 6 , 7 ], and that it has markers for mesenchymal stem cells such as CD34 and CD146. These cells are crucial for neovascularization and the formation of a new vessel with all three vessel layers.…”

The Interaction of Immune System in Tumour Microenvironment and Possible Role of Cancer Cell Immnunosensitization for Better Treatment Efficacy: A Review

“…Although such tumours arise from diverse heterogeneity from that seen in adults (Jones et al, 2019) the unique physiology of solid tumours generally stems from the tumour vasculature. Normal blood vessels consist of arterioles, capillaries, and venules that are evenly spaced and well-differentiated (Atherton & Hinen, 2022) conversely, the tumour vasculature displays an irregular pattern of disorganization, primarily due to the uncontrolled growth of the neoplastic cell population and the overexpression of pro-angiogenic factors (Barachini et al, 2023). Tumour vascular irregularities slow blood flow, making them "leakier" than normal tissues and causing tumour hypoxia and necrosis, which hinders cancer treatment.…”