[Relationship between aging and the number and function of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between aging and the number and function of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in rats.


METHODS
The number and function of bone marrow-derived EPC were measured in 4, 10 and 18 months old rats (n = 10 in each group). Mononuclear cells (MNC) were isolated from rat bone marrow by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation and cultured for 7 days, EPC were identified as adherent cells double positive stained for FITC-UEA-I and DiI-acLDL under laser confocal immunofluence microscopy. Boyden chamber was used to determine the migration capacity of EPC and the number of recultured EPC was counted to test the adherent function of EPC.


RESULTS
The number (42.0 +/- 5.8 vs 30.8 +/- 4.7 vs 21.5 +/- 4.7 per field) and the migration and adhesion capacities of EPC were significantly reduced with aging.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that the number and function of EPC are decreased with aging.
Chen
Jian-fei
JF
Cardiovascular Center of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
Huang
Lan
L
Jin
Jun
J
Wu
Xiao-jing
XJ
Liu
Lan
L
Zhou
Jian
J
Zhao
Xiao-hui
XH
Cui
Bin
B
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley