Abstract
Skeletal vasculature plays a central role in the maintenance of microenvironments for osteogenesis and haematopoiesis. In addition to supplying oxygen and nutrients, vasculature provides a number of inductive factors termed as angiocrine signals. Blood vessels drive recruitment of osteoblast precursors and bone formation during development. Angiogenesis is indispensable for bone repair and regeneration. Dysregulation of the angiocrine crosstalk is a hallmark of ageing and pathobiological conditions in the skeletal system. The skeletal vascular bed is complex, heterogeneous and characterized by distinct capillary subtypes (type H and type L), which exhibit differential expression of angiocrine factors. Furthermore, distinct blood vessel subtypes with differential angiocrine profiles differentially regulate osteogenesis and haematopoiesis, and drive disease states in the skeletal system. This review provides an overview of the role of angiocrine signals in bone during homeostasis and disease.
Highlights
The vascular system serves as a rapid transport network for delivering oxygen and nutrients
This review aims to provide a summary of angiocrine factors and the role of angiogenesis in the skeletal system
It is becoming increasingly clear that the skeletal vasculature is heterogeneous, and specialized to secrete osteogenesis and haematopoiesis supporting angiocrine factors
Summary
The vascular system serves as a rapid transport network for delivering oxygen and nutrients In addition to this traditional role, recent evidence illustrates that endothelial cells (ECs) and perivascular cells engage in signalling with neighbouring cells, and regulate various tissue and organ developments and functions [1,2,3,4,5]. The angiocrine signals involve growth factors, extracellular matrix components, secreted signalling molecules such as cytokines and chemokines, and gaseous, physical or cell–cell communication through the cell surface molecules. During such angiocrine crosstalk with neighbouring cell types, blood vessels often form nurturing niche microenvironments required for the maintenance of stem and progenitor cells [6].
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