Modulation of Ang 2

About

Brief Description: The lymphatic vascular network penetrates most tissues in the body and plays important roles in a broad spectrum of functions, including immune surveillance, fat absorption and interstitial fluid homeostasis. Numerous disorders have been found to be associated with lymphatic dysfunction, such as cancer metastasis, inflammatory and immune diseases, infection, transplant rejection, obesity, hypertension and lymphedema. However, to date, there is still little effective treatment for most lymphatic disorders. The cornea of the eye provides an ideal tissue for lymphatic research due to its unique features of transparency and it is one of the most favorite models for vascular research. Using this tissue, researchers at UC Berkeley (UCB) are working to advance the understanding the mechanisms underlying pathologic lymphatic processes, such as lymphangiogenesis (LG), for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Angiopoietin is part of a family of vascular growth factors responsible for assembling and disassembling the endothelial lining of blood and lymphatic vessels. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) deficiency leads to abnormal lymphatic vessels. UCB researchers are investigating the role of Ang-2 in corneal inflammatory LG in vivo and in lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) functions in vitro. Using animal models combined with human cell cultures, Berkeley researchers have discovered that Ang-2 is critically involved in pathologic LG processes and its manipulation by anti-Ang-2 treatment inhibits inflammatory LG in vivo and LEC proliferation and capillary tube formation in vitro. These data and deeper understanding by UCB may offer new therapeutic methods, compositions, and kits to help interfere with LG and related diseases, which can occur both inside and outside the eye. Applications: Corneal vascularization in various diseases Corneal transplants in low-risk and high-risk settings Other tissue or organ transplant Other immune- or lymphatic-related disorders, such as cancer metastasis Advantages: Local or systemic administration Demonstrated in mouse model Demonstrated in human in vitro culture system