title: Enumeration and functional investigation of endothelial progenitor cells in neovascularization of diabetic foot ulcer rats with a Chinese 2-herb formula.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the effect of a Chinese 2-herb formula (NF3) on the enumeration and angiogenic differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in diabetic foot ulcer rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  EPCs and stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) were quantified by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. In vitro angiogenesis assays included proliferation, adhesion, migration and tube formation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our result demonstrated that NF3 (0.98 g/kg) could significantly enhance the circulating CD34(+) /VEGFR2(+) /CD45(-) EPCs levels in diabetic foot ulcer rats by 60% (P < 0.05) through the partial elevation of SDF-1α, restoring the mobilization ability of EPCs for wound neovascularization. We successfully isolated the BM-derived EPCs to study their angiogenic potential after NF3 treatment. BM-derived EPCs significantly expressed cell surface markers of CD34, CD146 and VEGFR2 (P < 0.05 - 0.01). NF3 could significantly stimulate the proliferation and attachment ability of EPCs dose-dependently (P < 0.01-0.001). Besides, NF3 could significantly augment EPCs migration (P < 0.001) and tube formation (P < 0.01-0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NF3 modulated diabetic wound healing through regulation of systemic EPCs level and increase in local vascular formation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jacqueline Chor Wing
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chun Hay
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kit Man
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ming Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: To
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Hin Fai
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wing Sum
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ching Po
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wai Yee
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ping Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kwok Pui
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Clara Bik San
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal
keywords: Chinese medicine; astragali radix; diabetic foot ulcer endothelial progenitor cells; rehmanniae radix; wound healing; 关键词：黄芪，中药，糖尿病足溃疡，内皮组细胞，生地，伤口愈合