Endothelial progenitor cells: a source for therapeutic vasculogenesis?
Angiogenesis has been defined as sprouting of blood vessels from pre-existing vascular structures. Risau and co-workers defined the term vasculogenesis while studying the formation of new blood vessels in embryoid bodies. This process is characterized by the recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) to sites of new vessel formation with subsequent differentiation of EPC into mature endothelial cells, extensively proliferating in situ. Data from recent years provided evidence that EPC also exist in the adult and contribute to new vessel formation, a process called post-natal vasculogenesis. The existence of EPC has been convincingly shown in both, animals and humans. They represent a perfect cellular progenitor cell population for the ex vivo generation of EC, which in turn serve as cellular source for therapeutic vasculogenesis or tumor targeting. This review provides an overview on this hot topic of cellular-based therapeutic concepts and the therapeutic potential of ex vivo generated EPC.
Rumpold
Holger
H
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Wolf
Dominik
D
Koeck
Ruth
R
Gunsilius
Eberhard
E
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000502:physiology; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000502:physiology
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C489657:LRSAM1 protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2