title: Endothelial progenitor cells: the promise of cell-based therapies for acute lung injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are defined as a special type of stem cell that have been found to directly incorporate into injured vessels and that participate in angiogenesis and reconstruction by differentiation into endothelial cells. EPCs are widely used to therapeutically treat cardiovascular disease, limb ischemia and vascular repair. However, the role of EPCs in inflammatory diseases, especially in lung injury, is less studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the application of EPCs to vascular repair, and the role of EPCs in acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A computer-based online search was performed in the PubMed database and Web of Science database for articles published, concerning EPCs, angiogenesis, ALI/ARDS and stem cell transplantation
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPCs have a therapeutic potential for vascular regeneration and may emerge as novel strategy for the diseases that are associated with ALI/ARDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, No 324 Hospital of PLA, Chongqing, China. maomei270@163.com
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Xilin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zu-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000601:surgery*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000601:surgery; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology