title: Characteristics of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells in aged mice.
abstract: Evidence for dysfunction of endothelial repair in aged mice was sought by studying the pattern of induced differentiation, quantity, and function of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in aged mice. The CD117-positive stem cell population was separated from bone marrow by magnetic activated cell-sorting system (MACS), and EPCs were defined by demonstrating the expression of CD117+CD34+Flk-1+ by flow cytometry. After 7 days of culture, the number of clones formed was counted, and proliferation and migration of EPCs were analyzed by MTT[3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] assay and modified Boyden chamber assay. The results demonstrated that compared to the control group, the quantity of bone marrow-derived CD117+ stem cells and EPCs, as well as the proliferation, migration, the number of clones formed, and phagocytotic function of EPCs were significantly reduced in aged mice. There were no significant differences in the morphology and induced differentiation pattern of EPCs between the aged mouse group and the control group. Authors suggest that the dysfunction of EPCs may serve as a surrogate parameter of vascular function in old mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Shanghai Medical college, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guoping
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Huiming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Renming
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*