The growth of new blood vessels in adult life requires the initiation of endothelial cell migration and proliferation from pre-existing vessels in addition to the recruitment and differentiation of circulating endothelial progenitor cells. Signals emanating from growth factors and the extracellular matrix are important in regulating these processes.
Novel hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) binding domains on fibronectin and vitronectin coordinate a distinct and amplified Met-integrin induced signalling pathway in endothelial cells.
Coagulation Research Laboratory, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, GKT School of Medicine, St, Thomas' Hospital, London, UK. salman.rahman@kcl.ac.uk
