Assessing Identity, Phenotype, and Fate of Endothelial Progenitor Cells

摘要: From the paradigm shifting observations of Harvey, Malpighi, and van Leeuwenhoek, blood vessels have become recognized as distinct dynamic tissue entities that merge with heart to form a closed circulatory system.1 Vessel structures are comprised predominantly luminal layer endothelial cells is surrounded by some basement membrane, mural (pericytes or vascular smooth muscle cells) make up vessel wall. In larger more complex wall composed interwoven matrix nerve components. Understanding cellular molecular basis for formation, remodeling, repair, regeneration vasculature been continue be popular areas investigation. The endothelium has particularly scrutinized cell population recognition these may play important roles in maintaining homeostasis pathogenesis variety diseases.2 Although it known several decades shed extruded enter circulation apparent contaminants human stream,3 only recent technologies permitted identification not senescent sloughed cells,4 but also progenitor (EPCs), which purported represent normal component formed elements circulating blood5 disease pathogenesis.6–9 Most citations refer an article published 1997 Asahara colleagues isolated, characterized, examined vivo function putative EPCs from peripheral major impetus generating interest field.10 This seminal presented evidence consider emergence new process neovascularization postnatal vasculogenesis. Since publication article, cells, EPCs, soared, …