%0 Journal Article
%T An Important Role of Blood and Lymphatic Vessels in Inflammation and Allergy
%A Silvana Zgraggen
%A Alexandra M. Ochsenbein
%A Michael Detmar
%J Journal of Allergy
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/672381
%X Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, the growth of new vessels from preexisting ones, have received increasing interest due to their role in tumor growth and metastatic spread. However, vascular remodeling, associated with vascular hyperpermeability, is also a key feature of many chronic inflammatory diseases including asthma, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The major drivers of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are vascular endothelial growth factor- (VEGF-)A and VEGF-C, activating specific VEGF receptors on the lymphatic and blood vascular endothelium. Recent experimental studies found potent anti-inflammatory responses after targeted inhibition of activated blood vessels in models of chronic inflammatory diseases. Importantly, our recent results indicate that specific activation of lymphatic vessels reduces both acute and chronic skin inflammation. Thus, antiangiogenic and prolymphangiogenic therapies might represent a new approach to treat chronic inflammatory disorders, including those due to chronic allergic inflammation. 1. Introduction According to the World Allergy Organization, allergic disorders affect 30¨C40% of the world¡¯s population, and the prevalence is escalating to epidemic proportions. Much of the pathology of chronic allergic disorders such as atopic dermatitis and asthma is the long-term result of chronic allergic inflammation at the site of allergen exposure [1]. Thus, to explore additional possibilities to treat chronic allergic disorders, it is of importance to understand the distinct pathomechanisms and properties of chronic inflammation. Inflammation in general is the response of tissues to harmful stimuli such as infectious agents, antigens, or physical and chemical damage. Besides the increased inflammatory cell infiltration into the inflamed tissue, it has become clear in the recent years that acute and chronic inflammatory processes are associated with pronounced vascular remodeling. Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels and of lymphatic vessels from preexisting ones, are involved in a number of physiological and pathological conditions such as wound healing, tumor growth, and metastatic spread [2¨C5]. Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis also occur in several chronic inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, chronic airway inflammation, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis [6¨C9]. Even though blood and lymphatic vessels are key players in acute and chronic inflammatory processes, and thus might serve as new therapeutic targets
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ja/2013/672381/