Culture of human endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood and their characteristics

Objective To examine whether endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) could be isolated from peripheral blood and could be cultured and proliferated in vitro.Methods Total hPBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood of human volunteers and were cultured in EC basal medium-2.Culture cells were subjected to immunofluorescence and immunocytochemistry to analyze the expression of VWF,FLK-1,CD31,CD34 and AC133.Fluoresencent chemical detection was performed to detect dual binding of UEA-1 and acLDL,consistent with endothelial lineage cells.Results Culture cells were positively stained for VWF,FLK-1,CD31,CD34 and AC133 and could be shown to endocytose UEA-1 and acLDL.Conclusion EPCs have been shown to be present in circulation,in quantities sufficient to permit their harvest and in vitro expansion.