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Defining Endothelial Progenitor Cells

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Regenerative Therapy Using Blood-Derived Stem Cells

Part of the book series: Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine ((STEMCELL))

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Abstract

Human cord blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) have been defined as circulating cells that express a panel of cell surface markers similar to those known to be expressed by vascular endothelial cells, that home to sites of hypoxia/ischemia upon infusion into experimental animal models, and participate in blood vessel formation (as analyzed by in vitro and in vivo methods). Although no specific marker for an EPC has been identified, a group of markers has been consistently utilized as a surrogate marker for cells purported to display vascular regenerative capacity. Since both hematopoietic and vascular endothelial subsets display many of the same cell surface antigens and both participate in new blood vessel formation, recent analyses have stressed the need to reconsider the use of the term EPC. This chapter reviews our current approaches to identifying human EPC and provides a brief summary statement for a new definition of an EPC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Julie Mund, David A. Ingram & Mervin C. Yoder

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  1. Julie Mund
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  2. David A. Ingram
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Correspondence to Mervin C. Yoder .

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  1. Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Parkdale Ave 725, Ottawa, K1Y4E9, Ontario, Canada

    David S. Allan

  2. , Center for Medical Research (ZMF), Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstraße 24, Graz, A - 8010, Austria

    Dirk Strunk

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Mund, J., Ingram, D.A., Yoder, M.C. (2012). Defining Endothelial Progenitor Cells. In: Allan, D., Strunk, D. (eds) Regenerative Therapy Using Blood-Derived Stem Cells. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-471-1_2

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