Endothelial progenitor cells and coronary artery disease: Current concepts and future research directions

Abstract

Vascular injury is a frequent pathology in coronary artery disease. To repair the vasculature, scientists have found that endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have excellent properties associated with angiogenesis. Over time, research on EPCs has made encouraging progress regardless of pathology or clinical technology. This review focuses on the origins and cell markers of EPCs, and the connection between EPCs and coronary artery disease. In addition, we summarized various studies of EPC-capturing stents and EPC infusion therapy, and aim to learn from past technology to predict the future.

Promising Strategies for Preserving Adult Endothelium Health and Reversing Its Dysfunction: From Liquid Biopsy to New Omics Technologies and Noninvasive Circulating Biomarkers

“…Such evidence has also led to the assumption that reductions in EPC circulating number and/or alterations in their functions related to different causes could impact endothelium function and architecture, as well as the onset and complications of endothelium dysfunction and, consequently, the survival of affected persons. Increased or decreased circulating EPC levels, as well as alterations in their function (for a detailed description, we invite the reader to consult our book, see reference [ 48 ]), have indeed been associated with vascular endothelium aging and diverse endothelium dysfunction pathologies, including coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, systemic sclerosis, autoimmune disorders, and aneurysms [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ]. Our group, for instance, recently evidenced that subjects affected by bicuspid aorta valve syndrome show a significant decrease in both the tissue and circulating levels of the Notch pathway, as well as a decrease in blood EPC number, compared to subjects with a tricuspid physiological valve, whether in the presence or absence of aorta aneurysm (AAA) [ 51 , 59 ].…”

Pannexin 1 Modulates Angiogenic Activities of Human Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells Through IGF-1 Mechanism and Is a Marker of Senescence

“…After centrifugation (1600 rpm, 10 minutes), cell pellets were obtained. For acquisition of ECFCs, CD34 positive cells were seeded onto fibronectincoated dishes (1 μg/cm 2 ; BD Biosciences) at the density of 1×10 6 /cm 2 and cultured with Endothelial Cell Growth Medium MV2 (MV2 medium, PromoCell), containing human EGF (epidermal growth factor), VEGF, FGF-B (basic fibroblast growth factor), IGF-1, hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid, and 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS; Thermo Fisher Scientific), and then incubated in 5% CO 2 incubator at 37 °C. Medium was changed every 3 days.…”

“…4 EPCs improved outcomes in clinical trials of ischemic diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction and peripheral artery disease. 5,6 Patients with cardiovascular diseases are commonly old, and their EPCs usually present impaired cellular activities due to senescence, leading to poor therapeutic outcomes. 7 In addition, an adequate number of EPCs is necessary to achieve effective therapeutic angiogenesis.…”

Promising Strategies for Preserving Adult Endothelium Health and Reversing Its Dysfunction: From the Liquid Biopsy to New Omics Technologies and Non-invasive Circulating Biomarkers

“…Such evidence has also led to the assumption that reductions in EPC circulating number and/or alterations in their functions related to different causes could impact endothelium function and architecture, as well as the onset and complications of endothelium dysfunction and, consequently, the survival of affected persons. Increased or decreased circulating EPC levels, as well as alterations in their function (for their detailed description it invites to consult our book https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-55107-4; references 48), have indeed been associated with vascular endothelium aging and diverse endothelium dysfunction pathologies, including coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, systemic sclerosis, autoimmune disorders, and aneurysms [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58]. Our group, for instance, recently evidenced that subjects affected by bicuspid aorta valve syndrome show a significant decrease in both tissue and circulating levels of the Notch pathway, as well as a decrease in blood EPC number, compared to subjects with a tricuspid physiological valve, whether in the presence or absence of aorta aneurysm (AAA) [51,59].…”