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Review
. 2023 Aug 3:22:100757.
doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100757. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Transition metals in angiogenesis - A narrative review

Johannes Dürig  1   2 , Maurizio Calcagni  2 , Johanna Buschmann  2
Affiliations
Review

Transition metals in angiogenesis - A narrative review

Johannes Dürig et al. Mater Today Bio. .

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to offer a narrative review of the literature regarding the influence of transition metals on angiogenesis, excluding lanthanides and actinides. To our knowledge there are not any reviews up to date offering such a summary, which inclined us to write this paper. Angiogenesis describes the process of blood vessel formation, which is an essential requirement for human growth and development. When the complex interplay between pro- and antiangiogenic mediators falls out of balance, angiogenesis can quickly become harmful. As it is so fundamental, both its inhibition and enhancement take part in various diseases, making it a target for therapeutic treatments. Current methods come with limitations, therefore, novel agents are constantly being researched, with metal agents offering promising results. Various transition metals have already been investigated in-depth, with studies indicating both pro- and antiangiogenic properties, respectively. The transition metals are being applied in various formulations, such as nanoparticles, complexes, or scaffold materials. Albeit the increasing attention this field is receiving, there remain many unanswered questions, mostly regarding the molecular mechanisms behind the observed effects. Notably, approximately half of all the transition metals have not yet been investigated regarding potential angiogenic effects. Considering the promising results which have already been established, it should be of great interest to begin investigating the remaining elements whilst also further analyzing the established effects.

Keywords: Angiogenesis inducing agents; Angiogenesis inhibitors; Nanoparticles; Reactive oxygen species; Transition metals; Vascular endothelial growth factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Image 1
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic summary of pathways involved in angiogenesis. This figure offers the reader an overview of the mechanisms involved in transition metals' effects on angiogenesis discussed in this review article. Many of these pathways remain proposed theories, which have yet to be fully understood.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Overview of transition metals activating pro-angiogenic effectors and pathways (A) as well as transition metals inhibiting angiogenesis (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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