One week after the onset of hindlimb ischemia, lacZ-positive EPCs were identified incorporated into capillaries among skeletal myocytes.
Cutaneous wounds examined at 4 days and 7 days after skin removal by punch biopsy disclosed EPCs incorporated into foci of neovascularization at high frequency. Mouse syngeneic colon cancer cells (MCA38) were implanted subcutaneously into Flk-1/LZ/BMT (bone marrow transplantation) and Tie-2/LZ/BMT mice tumor samples harvested at 1 week disclosed abundant flk-1/lacZ and tie-2/lacZ fusion transcripts, and sections stained with X-gal demonstrated that the neovasculature of the developing tumor frequently comprised Flk-1– or Tie-2–expressing EPCs.
Localization of EPCs, indicated by flk-1 or tie-2/lacZ fusion transcripts, were identified in corpus luteal and endometrial neovasculature after inductive ovulation. To determine the origin and role of EPCs contributing to postnatal vasculogenesis, transgenic mice constitutively expressing β-galactosidase under the transcriptional regulation of an endothelial cell–specific promoter (Flk-1/LZ or Tie-2/LZ) were used as transplant donors. Customer Service and Ordering InformationĪbstract-Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been isolated in peripheral blood of adult species.Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology.Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA).Circ: Cardiovascular Quality & Outcomes.Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (ATVB).