title: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in bone healing.
abstract: Fracture healing is a complex physiological process. Local vascularity at the site of the fracture has been established as one of the most important factors influencing the healing process, and lack of vascularity has been implicated in atrophic non unions. Existing research has primarily involved utilising Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) to augment bone healing but there remains much scope to explore the role of stem cells in the vascularisation process. Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and other Endothelial Cellular populations (ECs) could constitute a valid alternative to MSCs. This systematic review is examining the importance of co-implantation of MSCs and EPCs/ECs for bone healing. A literature search was performed using the Cochrane Library, OVID Medline, OVID EMBASE and Google Scholar, searching for combinations of the terms EPCs, Endothelial progenitor cells, angiogenesis, fracture, bone and healing. Finally 18 articles that fulfilled our criteria were included in this review. ECs could be of value for the treatment of critical size bone defects as they are known to be capable of forming ectopic, vascularised bone. The co-implantation of ECs with MSCs is more intriguing when we take into account the vast array of complex reciprocal interactions between ECs and MSCs.
authors.affiliation: University of Athens, Medical School, 3rd Department of Orthopaedics, KAT General Hospital, Nikis 2 Kifissia 145-61, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Keramaris
authors.forename: Sarandos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaptanis
authors.forename: Helen Lucy
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loppini
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pneumaticos
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds