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The role of proteinases in angiogenesis, heart development, restenosis, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, and stroke: Insights from genetic studies

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Abstract

The development of novel gene technologies in mice has provided an elegant tool to identify gene products that are causally linked to certain physiologic processes as well as the pathogenesis of numerous disorders. Using these techniques, three major proteolytic systems — the plasminogen, the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and the coagulation systems — have been shown to be involved in cardiovascular diseases, which still constitute the leading cause of death in Western societies. This overview summarizes the role of these proteolytic systems in angiogenesis, arterial stenosis, allograft transplant stenosis, vein graft stenosis, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, cardiac development and ischemic stroke and discusses possible therapeutic implications.

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  1. Center for Transgene Technology and Gene Therapy, University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Aernout Luttun MD, PhD, Mieke Dewerchin MD, PhD, Désiré Collen MD, PhD & Peter Carmeliet MD, PhD

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  1. Aernout Luttun MD, PhD
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  2. Mieke Dewerchin MD, PhD
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  3. Désiré Collen MD, PhD
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  4. Peter Carmeliet MD, PhD
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Luttun, A., Dewerchin, M., Collen, D. et al. The role of proteinases in angiogenesis, heart development, restenosis, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, and stroke: Insights from genetic studies. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2, 407–416 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-000-0079-z

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