| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KATOH Atsushi DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE III, KURUME UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, 医学部, 助手 (70279165)
IKEDA Hisao DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE III, KURUME UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, 医学部, 助教授 (50168134)
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| Research Abstract |
Endothelial precursor cells (EPCs) have been identified in adult peripheral blood. We examined whether EPCs could be isolated from Umbilical cord blood, a rich source for hematopoietic progenitors, and whether in vivo transplantation of EPCs could modulate postnatal neovascularization. Numerous cell clusters, spindle-shaped and attaching (AT) cells, and cord-like structures developed from culture of cord blood mononuclear cells (MNCs). Fluorescence-trace experiments revealed that cell clusters, AT cells and cord-like structures predominantly derived from CD34-positive MNCs (MNC^<CD34+>). Greater numbers of AT cells and cell clusters developed from cord blood-MNCs than from an equal amount of adult peripheral blood-MNCs. AT cells incorporated acetylated-LDL, released nitric oxide, and expressed KDR, VE-cadherin, CD31, and von Willebrand factor but not CD45. Locally transplanted AT cells survived and participated in capillary networks in the ischemic tissues of immunodeficient nude rats in vivo. AT cells thus had multiple endothelial phenotypes and were defined as a major population of EPCs. Furthermore, laser Doppler and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that EPC transplantation quantitatively augmented neovascularization and blood flow in the ischemic hindlimb. In conclusion, umbilical cord blood is a precious source for isolating EPCs, and transplantation of cord blood-derived EPCs would be a novel strategy to modulate postnatal neovascularization.
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