title: Adult and cord blood endothelial progenitor cells have different gene expression profiles and immunogenic potential.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFC) are endowed with vascular regenerative ability in vivo and in vitro. In this study we compared the genotypic profile and the immunogenic potential of adult and cord blood ECFC, in order to explore the feasibility of using them as a cell therapy product.
  
  
  METHODS
  ECFC were obtained from cord blood samples not suitable for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and from adult healthy blood donors after informed consent. Genotypes were analysed by commercially available microarray assays and results were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. HLA antigen expression was evaluated by flow-cytometry. Immunogenic capacity was investigated by evaluating the activation of allogeneic lymphocytes and monocytes in co-cultures with ECFC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microarray assays revealed that the genetic profile of cord blood and adult ECFC differed in about 20% of examined genes. We found that cord blood ECFC were characterised by lower pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic gene expression as compared to adult ECFC. Furthermore, whereas cord blood and adult ECFCs expressed similar amount of HLA molecules both at baseline and after incubation with γ-interferon, cord blood ECFC elicited a weaker expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. Finally, we observed no differences in the amount of HLA antigens expressed among cord blood ECFC, adult ECFC and mesenchymal cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observations suggest that cord blood ECFC have a lower pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic profile than adult ECFC. These preliminary data offer level-headed evidence to use cord blood ECFC as a cell therapy product in vascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenia R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Nuzzolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capodimonti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Iachininoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy UNICATT Cord Blood Bank, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cocomazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy UNICATT Cord Blood Bank, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Larocca
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy UNICATT Cord Blood Bank, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teofili
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma