Expression and regulation of murine macrophage angiopoietin-2.

Our understanding of angiogenesis has increased significantly in the past few years with the discovery of angiopoietins (Ang). Specifically, Ang2 has been associated with pathologic as well as normal vascularization. While previous studies have shown that a major source of Ang2 has been endothelial cells and tumor cells, we reasoned that macrophages would also have the ability to express angiopoietins, specifically Ang2, due to that cell's role in wound healing, tumor angiogenesis, and a number of non-oncological diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.