Endothelial progenitor cells: regulation and contribution to adult neovascularization

Recent studies suggest that circulating progenitor cells contribute to the formation of new blood vessels in adults after tissue ischemia. The infusion of these progenitor cells was used as a therapeutic approach to increase vascularization. In several animal models, progenitor cells improved vascul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Herz 2002-11, Vol.27 (7), p.579-588
Main Authors: Walter, Dirk H, Dimmeler, Stefanie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aging
Animals
Cell Differentiation
Cell Lineage
Cell Separation
Cell Transplantation
Cells, Cultured - drug effects
Cytokines - pharmacology
Endothelium, Vascular - cytology
Forecasting
Genetic Therapy
Heart - physiology
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Hematopoietic Stem Cells - drug effects
Hematopoietic Stem Cells - physiology
Humans
Hypolipidemic Agents - pharmacology
Mice
Myocardial Infarction - surgery
Myocardial Infarction - therapy
Myocardial Ischemia - surgery
Myocardial Ischemia - therapy
Neovascularization, Physiologic
Regeneration
Stem Cell Transplantation
Stem Cells - cytology
Stem Cells - drug effects
Stem Cells - physiology
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Summary:Recent studies suggest that circulating progenitor cells contribute to the formation of new blood vessels in adults after tissue ischemia. The infusion of these progenitor cells was used as a therapeutic approach to increase vascularization. In several animal models, progenitor cells improved vascularization and capillary density after peripheral or myocardial ischemia. Moreover, transplantation or progenitor cells increased cardiac function after myocardial ischemia. These studies suggest a potential use of progenitor cells for improvement of therapeutic vasculogenesis in patients with ischemic heart disease. The present article will summarize these findings gained in experimental models. Moreover, novel approaches to increase the function and the number of circulating progenitor cells by pharmacological modulation (cytokines, statins) or gene therapy (VEGF) will be highlighted. Identification of mediators and cellular mechanisms that promote organ-specific recruitment of bone-marrow derived circulating progenitor cells as well as modulation of progenitor cell engraftment will lead to new strategies in order to improve neovascularization and cardiac regeneration in patients with ischemic heart disease.
ISSN:0340-9937
1615-6692
DOI:10.1007/s00059-002-2427-y