Identification and characterization of a resident vascular stem/progenitor cell population in preexisting blood vessels.

摘要: Vasculogenesis, the in‐situ assembly of angioblast or endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), may persist into adult life, contributing to new blood vessel formation. However, EPCs are scattered throughout newly developed vessels and cannot be solely responsible for vascularization. Here, we identify an progenitor/stem‐like population located at inner surface preexisting using Hoechst method in which stem cell populations identified as side populations. This is dormant steady state but possesses colony‐forming ability, produces large numbers (ECs) when transplanted ischaemic lesions, restores flow completely reconstitutes de‐novo long‐term surviving vessels. Moreover, although markers this very similar conventional ECs, they reside capillary endothelium sub‐population, gene expression profile different. Our results suggest that heterogeneity stem‐like ECs will lead identification targets vascular regeneration therapy.