Angiogenesis and functional recovery after traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Brain injuries caused by trauma remain a major cause of death and serious long-term disability worldwide, especially in children and young adults. However, nearly all Phase III traumatic brain injury (TBI) clinical trials have failed to provide safe and effective treatment for improving functional recovery after TBI. This review discusses recent promising preclinical and clinical data indicating that TBI promotes angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels from preexisting endothelial cells), which couples with neurogenesis (generation of new neurons) and oligodendrogenesis (generation of new oligodendrocytes), in concert, contributing to spontaneous functional recovery. Selected cell-based and pharmacological therapies that can amplify these endogenous neurorestorative effects to enhance cognitive and neurological functional recovery after TBI are discussed. Perspectives for further investigation of angiogenesis after TBI and associated therapeutic treatments are provided.