Endothelial Cell Chemotaxis Assays

Endothelial cell migration and proliferation play an important role in the growth and development of new blood vessels, in the process known as neovascularization or angiogenesis. In the normal developing embryo, new blood vessels are formed by the directed movement of endothelial cells from adjacent capillaries (1 ). A similar process occurs in many other normal physiological responses. These include wound healing, ovarian follicle maturation, the inflammatory response, and in immune reactions. However, angiogenesis is also a feature of a number of pathological states, and these include diabetes, atherosclerosis, arthritis, psoriasis, and cancer. In several instances the angiogenic process appears poorly controlled and results in the formation of leaky blood vessels. In other pathological states, such as cancer, the tumor itself appears to tightly regulate new vessel formation which results in its maintenance, and often continued growth.