title: Endothelial progenitor cells: a new target for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
abstract: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are circulating precursor cells that have been implicated recently in vascular and cardiac regeneration. There is an ongoing discussion on the immunocytological definition of EPCs, based on various surface markers, and currently different cell types are included in the term 'EPC'. This review summarizes the mechanisms that influence function, survival, mobilization and differentiation of EPCs. Furthermore, there are several reports on the clinical use of EPCs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. We have focused specifically on the influence of physical activity on EPC function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Klara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brixius
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Funcke
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bloch
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*