Glycolysis, or sugar metabolism, plays a key role in the formation
of new blood vessels that stimulate the growth of cancer and other
diseases, a new study published in the journal Cell and led by Peter
Carmeliet from VIB-KU Leuven reveals.These totally revolutionary insights open up many new therapeutic
opportunities for the treatment of cancer and diseases as a result of
excessive blood vessel formation. Every growing cell in our body is provided with oxygen and nutrients via
our blood vessels. Blood vessels are formed by endothelial cells which
line the inside wall of the vessel. These cells require energy to be
able to form new blood vessels. However, it was not known how these
cells produced the required energy and it was never considered to
inhibit the energy production process in order to block angiogenesis. Under the guidance of Peter Carmeliet, a team consisting of Katrien De
Bock, Maria Georgiadou and Sandra Schoors discovered that glycolysis is
the most important mechanism for endothelial cells to supply energy for
blood vessel formation. Peter Carmeliet and his team demonstrated that
endothelial cells can be paralyzed by blocking glycolysis and
consequently stop to form blood vessels. This is the first evidence that
starvation of endothelial cells could offer new therapeutic
opportunities for the treatment of excessive angiogenesis in diseases
(like cancer). Peter Carmeliet: "Our discovery opens up a whole new domain for
inhibition of angiogenesis in various diseases such as cancer.
Endothelial cells need nutrients and energy for growth and if you take
away their energy, you can prevent them from forming new blood vessels".
Source:Eurekalert
Source:Eurekalert
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