Angiogenesis Flashcards
Describe and explain the change in oxygen flux from the arterial to the Venus end of a capillary
Oxygen flux decreases from arterial to Venus end
As blood flows through, the [O2] decreases along the capillary as it diffuses out the capillary to areas of lower [O2], therefore slowing the flow of O2
What is oxygen flux?
The flow of oxygen
Why must cancer cells be close to a blood vessel?
It has high requirements for O2, glucose, amino acids etc.
The diffusion distance of O2 is limited
What does the Krogh cylinder show?
Where cells can function based on O2 levels and closeness to blood supply
If blood flow is low, what happens to the length of Krogh cylinder?
Length of cylinder is low
If metabolic rate is high, what is the effect on the Krogh cylinder?
The diameter is small
What does oxygen tension depend on?
Closeness to capillary
Closeness to arteriole end of capillary
What are hypoxic cells?
Cells that don’t have enough oxygen to function, beyond critical oxygen tension level
What is the oxygen diffusion distances under normal metabolism rate at:
Arterial end?
Venus end?
Arterial: 70 µM
Venus: 10 µM
What is the diffusion distance in highly metabolic environments at the:
Arterial end?
Venus end?
Arterial: 150 µM
Venus end: 70 µM
What are the 6 ways cancers can stay oxygenated?
- Increase blood flow
- Cause new vessels to grow in
- Split existing blood vessels
- Metabolism anaerobically
- Grow along blood vessels
[6. Develop new vessels de novo]
What does VEGF stand for?
vascular endothelial growth factor
Describe VEGF-A’s structure
A dimer with 2 identical polypeptides
Describe how VEGF can result in the formation of new vessels
- VEGF produced and secreted into surrounding stroma
- VEGF binds to VEGF-Receptors and activates Ca2+ & other signalling pathways
- Increases permeability of blood vessels (becomes leaky)
- Enables breakdown of extracellular matrix by MMPs
- Pericytes withdraw
- Sprouts form
- Endothelial cells migrate to source of VEGF
- Cell division occurs behind migrating sprout to push it out
- Lumen formed in new endothelial
- Sprouts connect when they reach other sprouts, lumens connect, and blood can flow through
What does HIF1 protein do?
Detected change in oxygen tension