Electrical Stimulation and Angiogenesis

Abstract

Electrical stimulation has long been used for various clinical conditions and recently been showed to have profound effects on angiogenesis-new blood vessel formation from pre-existing blood vessels. Electrical signals stimulate angiogenesis and possibly is able to organize blood vessel formation spatially. This chapter will present recent data on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of electrical stimulation-induced angiogenic responses. It will discuss direct effects of electrical stimulation on vascular cells. These include directed cell migration, orientation, elongation, and cell cycle control. Experimental evidence will be presented for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release and VEGF receptor signaling in electrical stimulation-induced angiogenic responses. The direct effects on endothelial cells, together with indirect effects caused by electric stimulation on other types of cells, such as stimulated VEGF production by muscle cell, may provide potential clinical approaches for angiogenesis control. Such a possibility is emerging, as human trials with electrical stimulation to enhance angiogenesis have shown promising results.