RESUMO
AIM: Endothelial cells (ECs), isolated from peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow (BM) and cord blood (CB), are limited in numbers and expansion has had limited success. We used a novel serum-free medium (EndoGo) to evaluate effects on ex vivo expansion of CB-derived ECs. MATERIALS & METHODS: Flow cytometry and matrigel were used to determine expansion of ECs and for determination of the EC progenitor cell. RESULTS: EndoGo™-containing cultures demonstrated superior expansion and stimulated proliferation of two distinct subpopulations, CD34+CD31+ and CD34-CD31+, which exhibited different morphology, phenotype and function. EndoGo also expanded the CB endothelial progenitor cells from freshly isolated CB. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate the potential of EndoGo to expand CB ECs, which could generate increased numbers of ECs for therapeutic applications.
