The present invention provides methods for reducing or inhibiting angiogenesisin a tissue, by contacting .alpha.5.beta.1 integrin in the tissuewith an agent that interferes with specific binding of the .alpha.5.beta.1integrin to a ligand expressed in the tissue； and methods of identifyingangiogenesis in a tissue, by contacting the tissue with an agent thatspecifically binds .alpha.5.beta.1 integrin, and detecting specific binding oftheagent to .alpha.5.beta.1 integrin associated with a blood vessel in thetissue. Also provided are methods of diagnosing a pathological conditioncharacterized by angiogenesis in a tissue in an individual.
