Biological behaviour and role of endothelial progenitor cells in vascular diseases / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To review the biological behaviour of endothelial progenitor cells and their role in vascular diseases. Data sources The data used in this review were mainly from Medline and PubMed for relevant English language articles published from 1985 to March 2007. The search term was "endothelial progenitor cells". Study selection Articles about the biological behaviour of endothelial progenitor cells and their roles in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases such as atherogenesis were used.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Progenitor cells in bone marrow, peripheral blood and adventitia can differentiate into mature endothelial cells (ECs). The progenitor cells, which express certain surface markers including AC133, CD34 and KDR, enable restoration of the microcirculation and ECs when injury or ischaemia occurs. Endothelial progenitor cells used in experimental models and clinical trials for ischaemic syndromes could restore endothelial integrity and inhibit neointima development. Moreover, their number and functional properties are influenced by certain cytokines and atherosclerotic risk factors. Impairment of the progenitor cells might limit the regenerative capacity, even lead to the development of atherosclerosis or other vascular diseases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Endothelial progenitor cells have a particular role in prevention and treatment of certain cardiovascular diseases. However, many challenges remain in understanding differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells, their mobilization and revascularization.</p>

The effect of serum high-density lipoprotein on the growth rate of human endothelial progenitor cells / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) on the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) isolated from human umbilical cord blood; to further explore its effect on prevention and development of atherogenesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>EPC isolated by density gradient centrifugation were cultured in a M200 medium. Immunofluorescence staining for CD133, CD34, KDR and Factor VIII were adopted respectively as the specific markers for identification. The effect of HDL on EPC proliferation was estimated on the 7th day of cell cultivation using MTT assay, confocal microscopy and fluorescence activated cell sorting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HDL, when incubated with EPC, was able to promote remarkably the proliferation rate of EPC, dose- and time-dependent. HDL participated in the transcriptional regulation of cell cycle by affecting the regulatory proteins such as cyclin D1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A subtype of progenitor cells was isolated from human cord blood with a potential of differentiating into mature endothelial cells (known as endothelial progenitor cells). HDL plays an important role on EPC fluorescence activated cell sorting differentiation and proliferation. Further studies are required to identify the signal pathway and the molecular mechanism of HDL effect on EPC proliferation.</p>