Endothelial progenitor cells for regeneration
Masuda, H.; Kalka, C.; Asahara, T.
Human Cell 13(4): 153-160
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0914-7470 PMID: 11329932 Document Number: 515876
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been recently isolated from peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM), and shown to be incorporated into sites of physiological and pathological neovascularization in vivo. In contrast to differentiated endothelial cells (ECs), transplantation of EPCs successfully enhanced vascular development by in situ differentiation and proliferation within ischemic organs. Based on such a novel concept of closed up function on EPCs in postnatal neovascularization, the beneficial property of EPC is attractive for cell therapy as well as cell-mediated gene therapy applications targeting regeneration of ischemic tissue.