Abstract
Angiogenesis is essential for wound repair. The new blood vessels provide nutrients and oxygen to support cell growth and tissue repair. Neovascularization is a complex multistep process that is dynamic and tightly regulated in a spatial and temporal manner by a variety of signals from soluble factors, extracellular matrix, pericytes, and surrounding stromal cells. Recently, endothelial progenitor cells are known to be involved and, in fact, play a critical role in neovascularization. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate wound angiogenesis may provide novel approaches for treating chronic wounds.