Molecular evaluation of endothelial progenitor cells in patients with ischemic limbs: therapeutic effect by stem cell transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Although some patients with limb ischemia have recently undergone therapeutic angiogenesis by cell transplantation, their angiogenic potential has not been well characterized. It is also important to evaluate endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) contents in different stem cell sources to choose the best material for therapeutic angiogenesis.


RESULTS
We quantitated the mRNA expression of EPC-specific molecules (eg, Flk-1, Flt-1, CD133, VE-cadherin, etc) in bone marrow-derived or peripheral blood-derived mononuclear cells obtained from patients with ischemic limbs, using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction technique. The mRNA expression level of EPC markers was significantly lower in the patients than in healthy controls, which was consistent with results of flow cytometric analysis. However, the implantation of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells increased the circulating EPCs in the peripheral blood of patients. We furthermore revealed the different expression pattern of EPC markers in possible sources for stem cell transplantation, including normal bone marrow, peripheral blood obtained from recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-treated donor, and umbilical cord blood.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with peripheral obstructive arterial diseases may have lower angiogenic potential because of decreased expression of EPC specific molecules in their marrow and blood. Therapeutic angiogenesis by transplantation of autologous marrow mononuclear cells increased circulating EPCs in the patients and improved ischemic symptoms.
Yamamoto
Koji
K
Department of Transfusion Medicine, Nagoya University Hospital, 65 Tsurumai, Showa, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan. kojiy@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Kondo
Takahisa
T
Suzuki
Satoshi
S
Izawa
Hideo
H
Kobayashi
Masayoshi
M
Emi
Nobuhiko
N
Komori
Kimihiro
K
Naoe
Tomoki
T
Takamatsu
Junki
J
Murohara
Toyoaki
T
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000099152:Cadherin 5
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D000099152:Cadherin 5; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human