title: Focus on biological identity of endothelial progenitors cells.
abstract: Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) were discovered by Asahara et al in 1997 and defined as bone marrow CD34+/KDR+ cells endowed with angiogenic potentialities in vitro and in vivo. The most likely assumption is that EPCs consist of several cell subpopulations with functions targeted at accomplishing the post-natal neovascularization process in a synergic and complementary fashion. Indeed, the subsequent identification of numerous and differentiated hematic populations, characterized by the capacity to develop an endothelial phenotype, has posed a number of questions as to the real identity of EPCs. This concept does not represent a sterile speculation but rather it suggests important implications for the future practice of stem cell therapy. The aim of this report was to explore through a critical analysis the two main experimental methodologies, in vitro culture and flow cytometry, applied to EPCs, followed by a brief revaluation of the endothelial progenitors employing a globally functional approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Complesso Integrato Columbus, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy. donalipuma2015@libero.it.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zaccone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flore
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Matteis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giupponi
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Li Puma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoliquido
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D000066670:Cell Plasticity; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods