New vessel formation in the central nervous system during tumor growth, vascular malformations, and Moyamoya.

In the normal adult brain, blood vessel formation is tightly down-regulated. However, pathologic processes such as brain tumors can increase the proportion of endothelial cells involved in angiogenesis. When this process is initiated, a complex series of timed events result in new vessel formation. In this review, we will describe the process of angiogenesis in the central nervous system. We will discuss the roles of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), Angiopoietins, Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), and integrins in angiogenesis. We will also look into their significance in disease processes such as neoplasms, arteriovenous malformations (AVM), and Moyamoya disease.