However, low levels of the pro-angiogenic factor VEGF in the presence of increased levels of angiopoietin-2 were associated with activation of apoptotic pathways, detrimental to survival and proliferation pathways, leading to endothelial cell death and vessel regression in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy (Bento et al., 2010). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is diabetic retinopathy.