Therapeutic neovascularization by autologous transplantation with expanded endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood into ischemic hind limbs.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the hypothesis that transplantation with expanded autologous endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) could enhance neovascularization.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB-MNC) isolated from New Zealand White rabbits were cultured in vitro. At d 7, the adherent cells were collected for autologous transplantation. Rabbits with severe unilateral hind limb ischemia were randomly assigned to receive phosphate-buffered saline or expanded EPC in phosphate-buffered saline, administered by intramuscular injection in 6 sites of the ischemic thigh at postoperative d 7. Neovascularization was monitored by using the calf blood pressure ratio to indicate tissue perfusion, digital subtraction angiography to identify collateral vessel development and histological analysis of capillary density in the ischemic limb at d 35 after surgery.


RESULTS
Autologous EPC transplantation produced significant amelioration in ischemic hind limbs, as indicated by a greater calf blood pressure ratio (0.52+/-0.04 vs 0.42+/-0.05, P<0.01), angiographic score (1.44+/-0.06 vs 0.98+/-0.08, P<0.01) and capillary density in muscle (195.2+/-5.4/mm2 vs 169.4+/-6.4/mm2, P<0.05), than controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Transplantation of autologous expanded EPC can promote neovascularization in ischemic hindlimbs.
Fan
Chun-ling
CL
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Vascular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200025, China.
Gao
Ping-jin
PJ
Che
Zai-qian
ZQ
Liu
Jian-jun
JJ
Wei
Jian
J
Zhu
Ding-liang
DL
D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply*; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous