Friends Turned Foes: Angiogenic Growth Factors Beyond Angiogenesis

The document from October 2, 2017, reviews the roles of angiogenic growth factors, particularly VEGFs, FGFs, and angiopoietins, beyond their established function in angiogenesis. It highlights their involvement in various diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and age-related macular degeneration. The review points out that while these factors are essential for normal physiological processes, their dysregulation can contribute to the pathogenesis of several diseases. It discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting these growth factors, as well as the side effects associated with such therapies. The document emphasizes the importance of further research to fully understand the complex roles of these growth factors in health and disease, and the potential for developing targeted treatments.