Chemokine research on blood-vessel growth featured in journal Nature Medicine

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., May 23 - Chemokine Therapeutics Corp. announced the publication of an article in the journal Nature Medicine, identifying a mechanism for blood-vessel growth.

More than 200,000 individuals undergo various costly treatments for diseases associated with abnormal vascularization, such as age-related macular degeneration, the company said in a news release.

Vascularization is a process believed to involve local production of a group of growth factors, cytokines and chemokines. An excess amount of these growth factors leads to abnormal growth of endothelial cells, which form new blood vessels.

"In the article, the team concludes that in the limb ischemia revascularization model, the chemokine SDF-1 is a hub for most growth factors and, without it, there is reduced revascularization, even if other growth factors are present. The discoveries point to the need for the development of SDF-1 inhibitors as a mean to stop unwanted vascularization of tissues and organs. SDF-1 inhibitors may have even greater potential than currently used anti-cytokine/growth factor therapies," Chemokine president and chief executive officer Hassan Salari said in the release.

Vancouver, B.C.-based Chemokine Therapeutics is a product-focused biotechnology company developing drugs in the field of chemokines.

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