title: [Experiment of augmenting the survival areas of ischemic flap by transplanting endothelial progenitor cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of transplanted endothelial progenitor cells to ischemic flap with increased neovascularization and augmented the survival areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  EPCs were isolated from human cord blood, cultured in vitro, identified by immunohistochemistry. Then EPCs were transplanted to ischemic flaps of 9 nude mice's back (experimental group), and 9 nude mice's back flaps was injected with M199(control group). And pedicle division time was 4 days after operation. CM-DiI was used to trace the transplanted cells. The blood perfusion of flaps was monitored by the laser Doppler flowetry, and the capillary density of flaps was detected by CD34 immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EPCs expressed cell markers CD34, KDR and CD133. Transplanted EPCs survived and was incorporated into the capillary networks in the ischemic flaps of nude mice. The percent of experimental group's flap survival area was (60.3 +/- 2.1)%, significantly higher than the control group[ (34.2 +/- 1.8)%, P < 0.05 ]. The blood perfusion, capillary density of flaps of experimental group was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPCs from human cord blood can increase ischemic flaps neovascularization and augment the survival areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-gang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Shu-zhong
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Lin-xi
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing-hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xu-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qing-hong
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous