Arteriogenesis: a focus on signal transduction cascades and transcription factors.

In recent years intensive investigations have been performed to unravel the molecular mechanisms of collateral artery growth (arteriogenesis), a process designed by nature to compensate the devastating consequences of major arterial occlusions. Currently, a variety of gene products as well as signal transduction pathways involved in arteriogenesis have been identified. However, it is still not clear how the progression of cellular signals evoked by an increased blood flow and therefore mechanical stress proceeds. Literature research identified the transcription factors early growth response-1 (Egr-1) as well as serum response factor (SRF) and myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs) as liaisons connecting the key pathways of arteriogenesis, i.e. the Rho-kinase pathway and the MEK/ERK pathway, with each other as well as with downstream genes.