title: Endothelial Progenitor Cells as a Therapeutic Approach for Intracerebral Hemorrhage.
abstract: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most lethal subtype of stroke, a leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. Therapeutic options are notably limited. There is no specific pharmacological treatment, and early surgery has few indications that represent only a small clinically relevant survival advantage. It is therefore mandatory to investigate repairing processes after ICH in order to develop related therapeutic strategies.
  
  
  
  The goal of this review is to discuss the current status of knowledge about the potential therapeutic role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in ICH, as well as the possible molecular mechanisms and future perspectives.
  
  
  
  ICH is characterized by a primary vascular rupture, followed by a secondary vascular tearing due to the peripheral pressure exerted by the hematoma. Hypoperfusion may also play a role, although not as markedly as in ischemic stroke. In this context, the repairing of damaged vessels and the development of new ones seem logical therapeutic targets. Circulating EPCs have been suggested to play a major role in re-endothelization, angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Congruently, EPC levels have been associated with good neurological and functional outcome as well as with reduced residual volume in patients with acute ICH.
  
  
  
  An EPC-based therapy, acting primarily through angiogenic mechanisms, may be a valid therapeutic option in ICH.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pías-Peleteiro
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perez-Mato
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lopez-Arias
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Yanez
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory, Hospital Clínico Universitário, Travesa da Choupana S/N, 15706 - Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sobrino
mesh_terms: D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Angiogenesis; cellular therapy; endothelial progenitor cells; intracerebral hemorrhage; outcome; vasculogenesis