Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells for vascular regeneration.
It has recently been demonstrated that postnatal neovascularization is not restricted to angiogenesis, but also includes vasculogenesis. During adult vasculogenesis, bone marrow (BM)-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are recruited to the systemic circulation in response to certain cytokines and/or tissue ischemia, and incorporate into sites of neovascularization. EPCs have also been investigated as therapeutic agents in a 'supply-side' approach to promoting neovascularization under pathological conditions. This review highlights the discovery of BM-derived EPCs and their therapeutic potential for vascular regeneration.
Murayama
Toshinori
T
Division of Cardiovascular Research, St Elizabeth's Medical Center of Boston, Brighton, MA 02135-2997, USA.
Asahara
Takayuki
T
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000502:physiology*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*