Endogenous Transmembrane TNF-Alpha Protects Against Premature Senescence in Endothelial Colony Forming Cells

Transmembrane tumor necrosis factor-α (tmTNF-α) is the prime ligand for TNF receptor 2, which has been shown to mediate angiogenic and blood vessel repair activities in mice. We have previously reported that the angiogenic potential of highly proliferative endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) can be explained by the absence of senescent cells, which in mature endothelial cells occupy >30% of the population, and that exposure to a chronic inflammatory environment induced premature, telomere-independent senescence in ECFCs.