Scientists say that the process of new vessels forming can be turned into disease preventing.

The University of Bristol found out how the cellules surrounding the blood vessels (pericytes) stimulate the growth of new vessels. Therein, the hormone leptin is involved, as Eurek Alert informs. Leptin is produced by fat cellules, facilitating of the energy balance regulation in the body by suppressing appetite.
New vessels growth (angiogenesis) is simultaneously essential both for tissue coagulation after injuries (positive effect) and the development of pathological processes (cancer, for example). The observations showed that pericytes produced 40 times more leptin in conditions of a reduced oxygen concentration. Dynamic release of leptin was maintained until the oxygen level returned to normal.
Evidently, mechanism of tissue saturation with oxygen worked in such a manner by formation of new vassels. On the basis of it, as oxygen comes along with blood. Based on the data obtained, the scientists hope to create new types of therapy for heart attack and oncological diseases.
Source: Eurek Alert