Identification of a novel hierarchy of endothelial progenitor cells using human peripheral and umbilical cord blood.

摘要: Emerging evidence to support the use of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) for angiogenic therapies or as biomarkers assess cardiovascular disease risk and progression is compelling. However, there no uniform definition an EPC, which makes interpretation these studies difficult. Although hallmarks stem are their ability proliferate give rise functional progeny, EPCs primarily defined by expression cell-surface antigens. Here, using adult peripheral umbilical cord blood, we describe approach that identifies a novel hierarchy based on clonogenic proliferative potential, analogous hematopoietic cell system. In fact, some form replatable colonies when deposited at single-cell level. Using this approach, also identify previously unrecognized population in blood can achieve least 100 doublings, replate into secondary tertiary colonies, retain high levels telomerase activity. Thus, method define they unique potential-endothelial colony-forming (HPP-ECFCs) human blood. (Blood. 2004;104:2752-2760)