Blood Vessel plays a very important role as its growth determines whether timely nutrition is provided during embryonic development. In adulthood, the growth of new vessels can help the process of repair and regeneration. When the growth of them are disturbed, cancer, diabetes and eye disease may occur. By now, scientists have found that the growth of blood vessels in the innermost cell layer can be controlled by metabolism. The results, however, can be used as the basis of new treatments for diseases.

 
Vascular is generally referred as water pipe; those pipeline system supply oxygen and nutrients for the body. However, this analogy has a serious flaw. Unlike water pipe, blood vessels is a complex and highly dynamic system. Once the demand changes, vascular needs rapid feedback. For instance, increase the demand for oxygen and nutrients within the tissue for long term. If the there’s continued oxygen supply shortage, new blood vessels would grow.

 
In this process, endothelial cells play an important role. As the smallest blood vessels, capillaries also have a direct link with organs. When the endothelial cells receive the signal of increased need for oxygen and nutrients from tissue, the cell switch would come into accelerated state of cell division.

 
The team discovered a molecular switch that participates in the growth of blood vessels and can coordinate the cell division and metabolism of endothelial cells. Transcription factor FOXO1 can control how genes are read in the nucleus. “When we inactivated the FOXO1 factor of laboratory mice, we discovered that the growth of vascular cell was out of control. In contrast, the activation of molecules can slow the blood vessel growth.” Petente explained.

 
European and American scientists have also clarified this mechanism. Obviously, FOXO1 slows the metabolism and cell division of endothelial cells. “Under normal physiological state, FOXO1 prevent uncontrolled cell division, but this will impair the vascular function. However, when it’s necessary for the development of vascular, FOXO1 allow greater metabolic activity of endothelial cells.” Potente explained.

 
Max Planck and other researchers believe FOXO1 plays an important role in the treatment of various diseases. As we all know, FOXO1 are often inactivated in tumors, which may enable the uncontrolled growth of blood vessels. “Activate FOXO1 by targeted drugs might get the tumor controlled.” Potente speculated. FOXO1 may also be associated with metabolic diseases such as diabetes.