Cerebral angiogenesis: a realistic therapy for ischemic disease?

Angiogenesis, the sprouting of new capillaries from existing blood vessels, accompanies clinical and experimental stroke and is focused particularly in the salvageable ischemic border zone. As this endogenous angiogenic response correlates positively with clinical prognosis, a more complete understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms and timing of these events may help in the design of novel therapies for vascular regeneration after stroke. In this review we discuss endogenous protective mechanisms, including angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, and underlying molecular mechanisms. We also consider the feasibility of angiogenic therapy for stroke and its optimal timing.