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Endothelial progenitor cells: Characterization, in vitro expansion, and prospects for autologous cell therapy

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Abstract

Injection of hematopoietic stem cells or endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) expanded ex vivo has been shown to augment neovascularization in adult patients, but the precise origin and identity of the cell population responsible for these clinical benefits are controversial. The limited quantity of EPCs in the circulation has been the main obstacle to clinical trials. Several authors have therefore attempted to expand these cells ex vivo in order to obtain a homogeneous cell therapy product. One possible means of expanding EPCs ex vivo is to activate the thrombin receptor PAR-1 with the specific peptide SFLLRN. Indeed, PAR-1 activation promotes cell proliferation and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) dependent migration and differentiation, with an overall angiogenic effect. This review summarizes the results and rationale of clinical trials of angiogenic therapy, the nature of EPCs, the different methods of ex vivo expansion, and current methods of quantification.

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Abbreviations

AMI:

acute myocardial infarction

BM-MNC:

bone marrow mononuclear cell

CFU:

colony-forming units

CHD:

chronic heart disease

CLI:

critical leg ischemia

CXCR4:

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4

EPC:

endothelial progenitor cell

hTERT:

human telomerase reverse transcriptase

HUVECs:

human umbilical vein endothelial cells

IM:

intramuscular(ly)

LDL:

low-density lipoprotein

LV:

left ventricular

LVEF:

left ventricular ejection fraction

MAPC:

multipotent adult progenitor cells

MSC:

mesenchymal stem cell

PB-MNC:

peripheral blood mononuclear cell

SDF-1:

stromal derived factor-1

VEGF:

vascular endothelial growth factor

VEGF-R2:

vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM Unité 765, Paris, France

    D. M. Smadja, A. Cornet, J. Emmerich, M. Aiach & P. Gaussem

  2. Service d’Hématologie Biologique A, Paris, France

    D. M. Smadja, A. Cornet, M. Aiach & P. Gaussem

  3. Service de Médecine Vasculaire, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou (AP-HP), Paris, France

    J. Emmerich

  4. Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France

    D. M. Smadja, A. Cornet, J. Emmerich, M. Aiach & P. Gaussem

  5. INSERM U 765, Service d’Hématologie Biologique A, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, 20 rue Leblanc, F-75908, Paris Cedex 15, France

    P. Gaussem

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  1. D. M. Smadja
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  2. A. Cornet
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Correspondence to P. Gaussem.

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Smadja, D.M., Cornet, A., Emmerich, J. et al. Endothelial progenitor cells: Characterization, in vitro expansion, and prospects for autologous cell therapy. Cell Biol Toxicol 23, 223–239 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-007-0177-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-007-0177-6

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