title: Adult endothelial progenitor cells retain hematopoiesis potential.
abstract: Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are derived from endothelium in the aortic-gonado-mesonephric (AGM) region during embryogenesis. But little is known about whether endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) retain hematopoiesis potential after birth. In this study, we isolated adult EPCs from the bone marrow of C57BL/6 mice and identified them with an endothelial functional assay and by the CD31(+) CD133(+) CD45(-/dim) VEGFR2(+) phenotype. EPCs isolated from green fluorescence protein (GFP) transgenic C57BL/6 mice were cotransfused with bone marrow cells from wild-type C57BL/6 mice into lethally irradiated BABL/c mice. One month after transplantation, granulocytes (25.73 ± 5.43%) and lymphocytes (12.68 ± 3.26%) in peripheral blood showed GFP(+), referred to as donor EPC-derived blood cells. After an additional month, the percentage of GFP(+) granulocytes decreased to (3.69 ± 1.43%), whereas the percentage of GFP(+) lymphocytes showed no significant difference. Most of the GFP(+) elements showed a diffuse distribution in the spleen; but some were present as aggregates forming lymphoid nodules. GFP(+) endothelial cells were observed in the liver sinusoids, intestinal villi, and lung of recipient mice. These results indicated that adult EPCs not only took part in vasculogenesis, but also retained hematopoietic ability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Jiangsu Prov, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013997:Time Factors; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010455:Peptides; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C000606024:Prom1 protein, mouse; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; C516770:Ptprc protein, mouse