Circulating endothelial progenitor cells.
Angiogenesis research investigates the formation of new blood vessels in wound healing, tumour growth and embryonic development. Circulating, bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were first described 8 years ago, yet the exact nature of these endothelial precursor cells remains unclear. The contributions of circulating EPCs to angiogenesis in tumours, ischaemic injury and other diseases as well as their usefulness in the repair of wounded hearts and limbs remain under intense investigation.
Garmy-Susini
B
B
John and Rebecca Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0819, USA.
Varner
J A
JA
D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000502:physiology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing