Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of
mortality and
morbidity in the world. Recent clinical investigations and basic researches suggest that
strategies to improve
angiogenesis following TBI may provide promising opportunities to improve clinical outcomes and
brain functional recovery. More and more evidences show that
circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which have been identified in the peripheral
blood, may
play an important
role in the pathologic and
physiological angiogenesis in
adults. Moreover, impressive data demonstrate that EPCs are mobilized from
bone marrow to
blood circulation in response to traumatic or inflammatory stimulations. In this
review, we discussed the
role of EPCs in the repair of
brain injury and the possible
therapeutic implication for functional recovery of TBI in the
future.