title: Endothelial progenitor cells participation in cardiovascular and kidney diseases: a systematic review.
abstract: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) represent a small population of blood cells (5-40 cells/mm(3)), with an ability to differentiate into endothelial cells that form the lining of the blood vessels and contribute to postnatal angiogenesis. Abundant evidence shows that recruitment of EPCs from the bone marrow, the monocyte/macrophage lineage and the organs facilitate the endothelial regeneration and repair. Changes in the number of EPCs were observed in both, chronic kidney and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, these cells were tested for usage in diagnosis and therapy. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the EPC biology and contribution of these cells to the kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Human Histology and Embryology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kiewisz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kaczmarek
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Internal Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pawlowska
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Human Histology and Embryology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kmiec
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Internal Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stompor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D044968:Regenerative Medicine