The ex vivo expansion characteristic of endothelial progenitor cells / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To explore the ex vivo expansion characteristics of the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). METHODS: CD34+ cells were selected from umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC) by MiniMACS system, expanded at the same conditions as that for total MNC, coincubation of CD34+ and CD34- from the same donation for EPCs. In addition, we tested the effect of vessel endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and passage on cell differentiation, expansion kinetics and apoptosis. EPCs were determined and quantified by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Coculture of CD34+ and CD34-,total MNC led to a significant increase in the expansion of CD34+ cells compared with CD34 enrichment (P0.05). These differentiated EPCs were stained positive for CD34+, von Willebrand factor (vWF), KDR, CD31 and incorporate acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL). CD34+ and AC133+cells accounted for 68.2%?6.3% (n=6) and 57.2%?9.8% (n=6) of attaching (AT) cells at day 7 of culture, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Coculture of CD34+ and CD34- or culture of MNC enhances ex vivo expansion of EPCs. Early passage decreases apoptosis rate, VEGF has no significant effect on ex vivo expansion of EPCs.