Apoptotic bodies from endothelial cells enhance the number and initiate the differentiation of human endothelial progenitor cells in vitro

摘要

Apoptotic bodies from mature endothelial cells (ECs) were phagocytosed by isolated human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), thus inducing proliferation and differentiation of EPCs.Bone marrow-derived EPCs may contribute to reendothelialization and neovascularization (1,2). Because endothelial injury often occurs by apoptosis, we have investigated whether apoptotic bodies from ECs may affect the behavior of EPCs (3).