title: Transplantation of human umbilical cord-derived endothelial progenitor cells promotes re-endothelialization of the injured carotid artery after balloon injury in New Zealand white rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cell transplantation has great potential for promoting endothelial repair and reducing the complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of transplantation of human umbilical cord blood endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on injured arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells were obtained from post-partum lying-in women, and EPCs were isolated, cultured, expanded and identified by immunofluorescence. The carotid arterial endothelium of New Zealand white rabbits was injured by dilatation with a 3F balloon, and the EPCs were injected into the lumen of the injured artery in the transplanted group (n = 16), while an equal volume of phosphated buffered saline (PBS) was injected into the control group after balloon injury (n = 16). The animals were sacrificed after either 2 or 4 weeks, and the grafted cells were identified by double immunofluorescence staining with human nuclear antigen (HNA) and CD31 antibodies. Arterial cross sections were analyzed by pathology, immunohistochemistry and morphometry to evaluate the reparative effects of EPCs. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 mRNA expression were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fluorescence-labeled EPCs were found in the neointima. The neointimal area and the neointimal/medial area ratio were significantly lower in the transplanted group than in the control group (P < 0.05). von Willebrand factor (vWF) immunohistostaining showed more VWF-positive cells in the transplanted animals than in the controls (8.75 ± 2.92 vs. 4.50 ± 1.77, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the transplanted group had lower expression of PCNA mRNA (0.67 ± 0.11 vs. 1.25 ± 0.40, P < 0.01) and higher expression of TGF-β1 mRNA (1.10 ± 0.21 vs. 0.82 ± 0.07, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPCs derived from human umbilical cord blood were successfully transplanted into injured vessels. The transplanted EPCs inhibited neointimal hyperplasia and promoted vascular re-endothelialization.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-heng
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Da-ya
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi-min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Gui-fu
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D058426:Neointima / Q000473:pathology; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1