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Endothelial progenitor cells: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations
Author(s) -
Liew Aaron,
Barry Frank,
O'Brien Timothy
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.20372
Subject(s) - progenitor cell , bone marrow , medicine , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , disease , endothelial dysfunction , vascular disease , immunology , stem cell , bioinformatics , biology , genetics , in vitro
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) may be defined as adherent cells derived from peripheral blood‐ or bone marrow‐derived mononuclear cells demonstrating acLDL uptake and isolectin‐binding capacity. The number of circulating EPCs inversely correlates with the number of cardiovascular risk factors and is reduced in cardiovascular disease. This measurement may therefore serves as a surrogate marker for cardiovascular disease risk. EPC numbers can be modified by various means. However, the effectiveness of risk‐factor modification on EPC number and function is currently unknown. Furthermore, EPCs may be used as a potential therapy for a variety of vascular disease states including ischaemia, restenosis and pulmonary hypertension. This review provides an update on multiple factors that affect EPC number as well as highlighting the potential use of EPCs as a novel marker of vascular dysfunction. Furthermore, potential gene‐ and/or EPC‐based approaches to a number of vascular disease states are explored. BioEssays 28: 261–270, 2006. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.