鼠骨髓间充质干细胞的分离培养及定向诱导分化为内皮样细胞

目的：探讨体外大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（rBMMSCs）的分离培养和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）对其定向诱导为内皮样细胞（ELCs）的可行性。方法：采用Percoll（1.073g/ml）分离液分离骨髓单个核细胞,用含10%胎牛血清（FBS）的LG-DMEM培养基贴壁纯化培养,倒置显微镜、免疫细胞化学法、流式细胞仪、MTT法、透射电镜（TEM）联合对rBMMSCs形态、表型、生长曲线、细胞周期以及超微结构进行鉴定;诱导后的细胞,采用倒置显微镜观察细胞形态,免疫细胞化学法检测CD31、CD144（VE-cadherin）和CD34表达以及摄取Dil-ac-LDL、结合FITC-UEA-1的功能特点。结果：rBMMSCs呈长梭形,漩涡状排列。细胞生长曲线显示潜伏期、对数生长期和平台期,符合干细胞的生长规律。透射电镜结果表明：rBMMSCs有两种不同的形态结构,其中体积较小、核质比大、胞质内细胞器稀少者为处于未分化或分化较低状态的幼稚型rBMMSCs。细胞周期分析显示：第4代细胞G0/G1期为95.67%,表明绝大部分细胞处于非增殖状态;诱导后的部分细胞形态可见类似ELCs改变,表达血管内皮细胞（ECs）特异性表面标志CD31、CD34和CD144,具有摄取Dil-ac-LDL以及结合FITC-UEA-1的功能特点。结论：采用Percoll密度梯度离心与贴壁培养相结合的方法所培养的rBMMSCs在体外具有定向诱导分化为ELCs的潜能,可能成为血管组织工程理想的种子细胞来源。     

兔骨髓基质干细胞向血管内皮样细胞的诱导分化

目的:研究血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)联合碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)促进兔骨髓基质干细胞向血管内皮样细胞的定向诱导分化,为血管化组织工程骨研究提供实验基础.方法:采集2周龄兔后肢长骨骨髓,用全骨骨髓贴壁法进行原代培养,将获得的第2代骨髓基质干细胞以1× 105/mL密度接种于内皮细胞条件培养基(含10 μg/L VEGF,10 μg/L bFGF,10％胎牛血清的DMEM/F12培养液)进行体外诱导培养,对诱导2周的细胞进行细胞形态观察和表型、功能鉴定.结果:经血管内皮细胞条件培养基诱导2周后的细胞呈扁平形,多边形,表达血管内皮细胞特异性标志CD31、VWF因子,细胞具有吞噬DiI-Ac-LDL和摄取FITC-UEA-1的功能,诱导的细胞可在BD基质胶内形成管腔样结构.结论:血管内皮细胞生长因子联合碱性成纤维细胞生长因子可以成功诱导兔骨髓基质干细胞为血管内皮样细胞,有希望作为组织工程骨的血管化的种子细胞.     

体外诱导小鼠脂肪来源干细胞向内皮细胞分化的实验研究

目的：探索体外小鼠脂肪来源干细胞（Adipose—derivedstemcells,ASCs）诱导分化为内皮细胞（endothelialprogenitorcells,EPCs）的可行性。方法：利用I型胶原酶消化法和传代培养纯化法从小鼠脂肪组织中分离、培养及扩增ASCs,通过流式细胞仪检测ASCs特异性表面抗原CD29和CD44、CD105的表达;取第2代ASCs进行内皮诱导：即BD基质胶包被＋内皮细胞生长诱导培养基（M199＋10％血清＋10ng／mL血管内皮细胞生长因子VEGF＋10ng／ml碱性生长因子bFGF）。诱导两周左右,倒置显微镜观察诱导前后细胞的一般形态学特征;同时通过成血管实验观察成管腔能力;通过免疫荧光鉴定CD31表型分子的表达。结果：成功培养小鼠ASCs;CD29、CD44、CD90、呈阳性表达,而CD31、CD34、CD45呈阴性表达;诱导后的细胞形态呈三角形或多边形;HE染色观察可见明显的管腔样结构;免疫荧光法CD31表达阳性;MTT法成功记录EPCs增殖生长曲线。结论：成功的诱导小鼠脂肪来源干细胞分化为血管内皮细胞,为后续体内移植实验提供理论基础,同时也为临床受损组织或器官的重建再生提供实验基础。     

毛囊干细胞体外诱导成血管内皮细胞的实验研究

目的建立简单、可靠的毛囊干细胞体外定向分化为血管内皮细胞的方法。方法无菌条件下切取1周龄SD大鼠触须部皮肤,Dispase酶和Ⅳ型胶原酶混合液消化,显微镜下分离毛囊隆突部,改良的组织块贴壁法培养rHFSCs,差速贴壁法纯化,流式细胞仪检测及细胞免疫荧光染色联合鉴定。用含10 ng/ml和20 ng/ml VEGF165作为主要诱导因子将细胞分为两种浓度组别,不传代的情况下分别在1、2、3周内观察诱导后细胞形态;通过流式细胞和细胞免疫荧光染色检测分化效率;选取最佳诱导因子浓度和工作时间,对诱导后的细胞进行体外官腔形成实验,并在透射电镜下观察W-P小体。流式细胞术检测分化效率实验数据的比较采用单因素方差分析及独立t检验。结果分离、培养、纯化的rHFSCs克隆能力好,活力强,生长曲线呈S型。流式细胞及免疫荧光染色联合检测β1(98.9%)、α6整合素(97.9%),CK15(68.1%)、P63(98.5%)呈高表达,阴性表达CD31(13.6%)、VE-cadherin(17.9%)。在诱导液的作用下,两组细胞从1周到3周后,均由扁平铺路石样改变到完全被长梭形样细胞占据。流式细胞及免疫荧光染色检测CD31和VE-cadherin显示,CD31在诱导1周时表达最强,两种诱导因子比较无差异[(65.27±0.57%)vs(66.13±0.60)%,t=1.812,P=0.145]。而VE-cadherin在诱导1周时表达也最强,10ng/ml要优于20ng/ml VEGF165的诱导作用[(95.57±0.85)%vs(78.10±1.25)%,t=19.977,P=0.001]。10 ng/ml VEGF165诱导1周后的细胞体外管腔形成实验阳性,在透射电镜下可以观察到内皮细胞特有结构W-P小体。结论毛囊干细胞体外在10ng/ml VEGF165的诱导下,1周后可成功得到性能良好的血管内皮细胞。可为组织工程血管、细胞移植治疗缺血性疾病等提供理想的种子细胞。     

微孔法分离大鼠骨髓内皮祖细胞

用一种杂交瘤皿,根据内皮祖细胞集落形成单位(endothelial progenitor cells colony-forming units,EPCs-CFUs)的形态特征和EPCs表面特异性标记物分离EPCs.取大鼠股骨、胫骨骨髓,将全骨髓接种在聚苯乙烯制作的杂交瘤皿上,培养4～7天后出现CFUs,将这些集落分别挑选出来后,取单个集落的部分细胞免疫荧光鉴定EPCs表面特异性标记物CD133/VEGFR-2.CD133/VEGFR-2双阳性即为EPCs-CFUs.与此对应的余下一部分继续传代增殖,流式细胞术鉴定CD133/VEGFR-2/CD34,并把此方法命名为微孔法.发现接种后第4天,显微镜下可见明显的CFUs.免疫荧光鉴定大约7%的CFUs为CD133 /VEGFR-2 ,进一步传代培养,流式细胞术鉴定CD133 /VEGFR-2 /CD34 细胞纯度达70%以上.传代细胞可在体外形成血管样结构,并表达内皮细胞特异性标记物vWF.结果表明通过微孔法能成功地从大鼠骨髓分离到EPCs.     

卵巢癌细胞与腹膜间皮细胞相互作用对VEGF和bFGF表达的影响

目的探讨卵巢癌细胞与腹膜间皮细胞(HPMC)相互作用对血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)表达的影响。方法用Millicell将卵巢癌细胞SKOV3与HPMC进行非接触性共培养,用RT-PCR检测细胞VEGF及bFGF mRNA表达,ELISA检测细胞条件培养液中VEGF及bFGF蛋白水平。结果共培养后,SK-OV3 VEGF及bFGF mRNA表达分别为3.62±0.23及3.41±0.25,条件培养液中VEGF及bFGF蛋白水平分别为(523.5±24.9)pg/ml及(156.4±17.3)pg/ml,与SKOV3单独培养时相比,差别均有显著性(P<0.01)。HPMC共培养后VEGF及bFGF mRNA表达分别为3.96±0.09及3.54±0.21,条件培养液中VEGF及bFGF蛋白水平分别为(1567.62±45.42)pg/ml及(682.9±33.7)pg/ml,均明显高于HPMC单独培养时的水平(P<0.01)。结论卵巢癌细胞与HPMC均可合成VEGF及bFGF;二者共培养时,相互刺激表达更高的VEGF及bFGF。     

Tie-2单克隆抗体鉴定人骨髓间充质干细胞体外定向诱导分化的内皮细胞

目的:体外扩增和定向诱导成人骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)向内皮细胞分化,并探讨其可行性和条件.方法:利用Percoll(1 073 g/L)从正常成人骨髓中分离MSCs,用含10?S的LG-DMEM培养基进行纯化和扩增培养,流式细胞仪分析鉴定MSCs的纯度.用含VEGF(10μg/L)的HGDMEM培养基诱导MSCs向内皮细胞定向分化,Tie-2单克隆抗体的免疫组化法和透射电镜(TEM)鉴定其细胞的性质.结果:5.0×105个MSCs在体外扩增15代后,获得了8.0×1012个MSCs,扩增了约1.6×107倍.加入诱导培养体系培养14～21 d,光镜下可观察到内皮细胞呈典型的"鹅卵石"样:90%的细胞Tie-2免疫组化呈阳性反应;TEM下可观察到胞浆内有Weible-palade小体.结论:成人骨髓MSCs在体外具有定向诱导分化为内皮细胞的潜能,为构建心脏组织工程瓣种子细胞的来源提供了可能性.     

Caveolin-1对OGD/R人脐带血内皮祖细胞中VEGF表达的影响

通过探讨caveolin-1对氧糖剥夺/复氧(oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation,OGD/R)人脐带血内皮祖细胞(endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs)中血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)的影响,为caveolin-1在脑缺血缺氧性疾病中的应用提供实验依据。采用密度梯度离心法获取脐带血单个核细胞,接种在鼠尾I型胶原包被的培养板中,用内皮细胞培养液EGM-2培养,观察EPCs生长情况,通过观察细胞形态、双荧光染色法、免疫荧光细胞化学染色法及流式细胞仪等技术对培养的EPCs进行鉴定。选取EPCs高表达的时间点,构建针对caveolin-1基因的RNA干扰真核表达质粒,建立基因沉默和OGD/R模型,随机分为正常对照组、OGD/R组、caveolin-1基因沉默组、caveolin-1基因沉默OGD/R组。免疫荧光法和Western blot检测caveolin-1及VEGF的表达。人脐带血可分离获得内皮祖细胞;成功构建caveolin-1基因沉默模型;caveolin-1及VEGF的表达在caveolin-1基因沉默组显著低于正常对照组(P0.01);OGD/R组caveolin-1及VEGF表达明显高于正常对照组(P0.01);OGD/R组caveolin-1及VEGF表达明显高于caveolin-1基因沉默OGD/R组(P0.01);caveolin-1基因沉默组caveolin-1和VEGF表达量高于caveolin-1基因沉默OGD/R组(P0.05)。以上结果表明,caveolin-1能够影响OGD/R的EPCs中VEGF的表达,是促进血管细胞损伤修复的可能因素之一。     

不同氧浓度对骨髓源内皮祖细胞分泌促血管新生相关生长因子的影响

目的:观察培养环境不同氧浓度对骨髓源内皮祖细胞分泌促血管新生相关生长因子的影响。方法:利用密度梯度离心技术分离SD大鼠骨髓单个核细胞,向内皮祖细胞进行诱导分化、扩增、培养和鉴定。然后在不同氧浓度(1%,5%,21%)的环境中培养,于第3天,7天,10天采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测内皮祖细胞分泌血管内皮生长因子(Vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)、基质细胞衍生因子-1α(Stromal-derived factor-1α, SDF-1α)、胰岛素样生长因子I(Insulin-like growth factor-I, IGF-I)等生长因子的水平。结果:第3天,不同氧浓度下各组EPC分泌VEGF、SDF-1α、IGF-I无明显差异(P均0.05)。第7天和第10天,各组EPC分泌IGF-I无明显差异(P均0.05);但是和21%氧浓度相比,相对低氧浓度(1%和5%)能够明显增强EPC分泌VEGF和SDF-1α(P均0.001)。结论:适当时间的低氧环境培养能够显著刺激内皮祖细胞分泌VEGF和SDF-1α,进而增强其促血管新生能力。     

内皮祖细胞的分离培养与鉴定

内皮祖细胞的分离方法有免疫磁珠分离法、淋巴细胞分离液分离法(1.077)和差速贴壁法,这3种方法已被人们广泛使用,均可分离到一定的目的细胞。分离到的目的细胞在培养过程中逐渐分化、成熟、发育为内皮细胞。在内皮细胞和内皮祖细胞的鉴别区分,使用CD34+/CD133+/KDR+鉴定为内皮祖细胞,同时使用内皮祖细胞吞噬D il-ac-LDLFITC-UEA双阳性的方法也可鉴定为内皮祖细胞。     

The characteristics of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells and their effect on glioma

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: EPCs were isolated primarily in 1997 by Asahara et al and recent studies indicate that bone-marrow-derived EPCs contribute little to the endothelium of tumor vessels. Tumors of the CNS system demonstrate various features of angiogenesis. METHODS: EPCs derived from rat bone marrow were isolated and cultured in M199 medium without any induced factors. EPCs derived from rat bone marrow were studied using immunohistochemical staining, Flow cytometry and culture under three-dimensional condition to determine EPCs' characteristics in vitro. We also established an animal model by injecting EPCs marked with Hoechst 33342 into the back of BALB/c nude mouse and performed hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunofluorescent staining to study EPCs' features in vivo. To research effect of EPCs on glioma, animals bearing tumors model with C6 glioma were established. About 27day after injected, we performed immunohistochemical staining and Immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Our results showed that EPCs derived from rat bone marrow appeared typical morphological characteristics and were positive of CD34, CD133, KDR and CD31 antigens at different time in vitro under the special M199 medium without any induced factors. The percentage of cells that expressed CD133 decreased gradually. In brief, the present study showed that EPCs derived from rat bone marrow differentiated into ECs in medium 199 without any induced factors and formed tubular structures in three-dimensional circumstances. Animal experiments suggested that EPCs differentiated into ECs and other else non-endothelial cells, and that EPCs contributed to growth of glioma. DISCUSSION: These findings provides some novel findings about biological characteristics of EPCs in vivo and ex vivo, and an update on the effect of EPCs on glioma and which would be helpful for the overall understanding of EPCs and make EPCs to be implied on the clinical therapy.     

The characteristics of endothelial progenitor cells derived from mononuclear cells of rat bone marrow in different culture conditions

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) derived from bone marrow are known to be heterogeneous. In this study, we tried to find favorable conditions that induce the differentiation of mononuclear cells (MNCs) from bone marrow into EPCs. The differentiation capacity of MNCs from rat bone marrow was investigated in different conditions, such as different media, different induction times and different culture surfaces. The cell morphology and endothelial biomarkers associated with differentiated MNCs were studied. Our results indicated that MNCs cultured in EGM-2MV (Endothelial cell basal medium-2, plus SingleQuots of growth supplements) developed a bursiform shape, a late EPC-like morphology, while MNCs cultured in complete medium (CM, M199 with 10% FBS, 20 ng/mL VEGF and 10 ng/mL bFGF) showed a spindle shape, an early EPC-like morphology. Cells of both morphologies were able to incorporate DiI-ac-LDL and bind lectin in vitro. MNCs cultured in EGM-2MV exhibited a higher proliferation rate and higher eNOS expression than MNCs cultured in CM. MNCs cultured in EGM-2MV had the ability to form tubes on Matrigel. Flow cytometry results indicated that CD133 expression was highest at day 12 and that the greatest number of cells positive for both FLK-1 and CD133 appeared at day 20 from cells cultured in dishes without fibronectin coating. In addition, the expression levels of CD133, CD31 and FLK-1/CD133 were not significantly different between cells of different shapes. Our experiments suggest that MNCs from bone marrow can be differentiated into late EP-like cells in EGM-2MV, which have the ability to rapidly proliferate. These MNCs can also be differentiated into early EP-like cells in CM. Additionally, fibronectin may not be necessary for the differentiation of EPCs to mature ECs after three generations. Differentiated MNCs from bone marrow in EGM-2MV have the characteristics of EPCs, although the expression levels of EPC markers were lower than previously reported.     

两种不同内皮祖细胞的分离培养与鉴定

目的:探讨从小鼠骨髓中分离、培养、诱导分化及鉴定两种内皮祖细胞的方法,为进一步研究和临床应用奠定基础。方法:密度梯度离心法分离小鼠骨髓单个核细胞,接种于内皮祖细胞条件培养基,通过贴壁培养法培养出早期内皮祖细胞和晚期内皮祖细胞,并在0 d、6 d、10 d流式鉴定早期内皮祖细胞,在第8周流式鉴定晚期内皮祖细胞。结果:通过体外贴壁扩增培养,从小鼠骨髓细胞中成功培养出EEPC(早期内皮祖细胞)和EOC(晚期内皮祖细胞),表达CD34+/CD133+/VEGFR2+的EEPC比例从最初的0.08%能够增长至70%;EOC大约出现于3-4周,5-8周时呈现指数增长,具有典型的内皮细胞鹅卵石样形态,表达CD31、VEGFR2等内皮细胞表面标志而不表达CD34、CD133等干细胞表面标志。结论:确立了内皮祖细胞体外分离培养和诱导分化的实验方法,为进一步研究奠定基础。     

Prevention of Liver Fibrosis by Intrasplenic Injection of High-Density Cultured Bone Marrow Cells in a Rat Chronic Liver Injury Model

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from bone marrow have proven to be functional for the prevention of liver fibrosis in chronic liver injury. However, expansion of EPCs in culture is complicated and expansive. Previously, we have established a simple method that could enrich and expand EPCs by simple seeding bone marrow cells in high density dots. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether cells derived from high-density (HD) culture of rat bone marrow cells could prevent the liver fibrosis in a chronic liver injury rat model, induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Flow cytometric analysis showed that cells from HD culture were enriched for EPCs, expressing high levels of EPC markers. Intrasplenic injection of HD cultured bone marrow cells in the CCl₄-induced liver injury rat showed an enhanced antifibrogenic effect compared with animals treated with cells from regular-density culture. The antifibrogenic effect was demonstrated by biochemical and histological analysis 4 weeks post-transplantation. Furthermore, cells from HD culture likely worked through increasing neovascularization, stimulating liver cell proliferation, and suppressing pro-fibrogenic factor expression. HD culture, which is a simple and cost-effective procedure, could potentially be used to expand bone marrow cells for the treatment of liver fibrosis.     

CXCR2-Dependent Endothelial Progenitor Cell Mobilization in Pancreatic Cancer Growth

Neovascularization is essential for tumor growth. We have previously reported that the chemokine receptor CXCR2 is an important regulator in tumor angiogenesis. Here we report that the mobilization of bone marrow (BM)-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is impaired in CXCR2 knockout mice harboring pancreatic cancers. The circulating levels of EPCs (positive for CD34, CD117, CD133, or CD146) are decreased in the bone marrow and/or blood of tumor-bearing CXCR2 knockout mice. CXCR2 gene knockout reduced BM-derived EPC proliferation, differentiation, and vasculogenesis in vitro. EPCs double positive for CD34 and CD133 increased tumor angiogenesis and pancreatic cancer growth in vivo. In addition, CD133(+) and CD146(+) EPCs in human pancreatic cancer are increased compared with normal pancreas tissue. These findings indicate a role of BM-derived EPC in pancreatic cancer growth and provide a cellular mechanism for CXCR2 mediated tumor neovascularization.     

Characteristics of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells in aged mice

Evidence for dysfunction of endothelial repair in aged mice was sought by studying the pattern of induced differentiation, quantity, and function of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in aged mice. The CD117-positive stem cell population was separated from bone marrow by magnetic activated cell-sorting system (MACS), and EPCs were defined by demonstrating the expression of CD117+CD34+Flk-1+ by flow cytometry. After 7 days of culture, the number of clones formed was counted, and proliferation and migration of EPCs were analyzed by MTT[3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] assay and modified Boyden chamber assay. The results demonstrated that compared to the control group, the quantity of bone marrow-derived CD117+ stem cells and EPCs, as well as the proliferation, migration, the number of clones formed, and phagocytotic function of EPCs were significantly reduced in aged mice. There were no significant differences in the morphology and induced differentiation pattern of EPCs between the aged mouse group and the control group. Authors suggest that the dysfunction of EPCs may serve as a surrogate parameter of vascular function in old mice.     

Purification and growth of endothelial progenitor cells from murine bone marrow mononuclear cells

This study reports the culture and purification of murine bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) using endothelial cell-conditioned medium (EC-CM). Endothelial-like cells appeared at day 5 in culture of bone marrow mononuclear cells in the presence of EC-CM in the culture system, and these cells incorporated acetylated low-density lipoproteins (Ac-LDL) and reacted with endothelial-specific Ulex Europaeus Lectin. Continued incubation of these cells at low density with EC-CM for longer than 10 days resulted in the formation of endothelial cell colonies which gave rise to colonies of endothelial progeny and can be passed for many generations in the EC-CM culture system. Cells derived from these colonies expressed endothelial cell markers such as vWF and CD31, incorporated Dil-Ac-LDL, stained positive for Ulex Europaeus Lectin, formed capillary-like structures on Matrigel, and demonstrated a high proliferative capacity in culture. These bone marrow-derived adherent cells were identified as EPCs. The purification and the formation of EPC colonies by using EC-CM were associated with the cytokines secreted in the EC-CM. VEGF, bFGF, and GM-CSF in the EC-CM stimulated the proliferation and growth of EPCs, whereas AcSDKP (tetrapeptide NAc-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro) in EC-CM suppressed the growth of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and fibroblasts. This approach is efficient for isolation/purification and outgrowth of bone marrow EPCs in vitro, a very important cell source in angiogenic therapies and regenerative medicine.     

Expansion of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in High Density Dot Culture of Rat Bone Marrow Cells

In vitro expansion of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) remains a challenge in stem cell research and its application. We hypothesize that high density culture is able to expand EPCs from bone marrow by mimicking cell-cell interactions of the bone marrow niche. To test the hypothesis, rat bone marrow cells were either cultured in high density (2×10⁵ cells/cm²) by seeding total 9×10⁵ cells into six high density dots or cultured in regular density (1.6×10⁴ cells/cm²) with the same total number of cells. Flow cytometric analyses of the cells cultured for 15 days showed that high density cells exhibited smaller cell size and higher levels of marker expression related to EPCs when compared to regular density cultured cells. Functionally, these cells exhibited strong angiogenic potentials with better tubal formation in vitro and potent rescue of mouse ischemic limbs in vivo with their integration into neo-capillary structure. Global gene chip and ELISA analyses revealed up-regulated gene expression of adhesion molecules and enhanced protein release of pro-angiogenic growth factors in high density cultured cells. In summary, high density cell culture promotes expansion of bone marrow contained EPCs that are able to enhance tissue angiogenesis via paracrine growth factors and direct differentiation into endothelial cells.     

In vivo trafficking of endothelial progenitor cells their possible involvement in the tumor neovascularization

Circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPCs) have been reported to contribute to vasculogenesis in adult organisms. To investigate the possible recruitment of EPCs and organization to form tumor vasculature, we investigated the in vivo real-time trafficking of EPCs non-invasively by using positron emission tomography (PET). A conditionally immortalized endothelial cell line derived from rat bone marrow (TR-BME1) was labeled with [2-(18)F] 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) and chased the accumulation in the rat tumor with PET. TR-BME1 cells were accumulated in the tumor tissues time-dependently. To investigate that the accumulation of the cells is specific or not, rats were previously irradiated with gamma-ray to suppress the influence of non-labeled EPCs derived from its bone marrow and used for PET analysis. The accumulation of TR-BME1 cells in the tumor was enhanced in gamma-ray-irradiated rats compared with that of non-irradiated ones, suggesting that TR-BME1 cells accumulated in the tumor specifically like as EPCs. Then the involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in EPC recruitment was examined. An inhibitor of MMP, MMI270, which suppressed invasion and tube formation abilities of TR-BME1 cells, only slightly suppressed the accumulation of TR-BME1 cells in the tumor of rats. These results suggest that EPCs are recruited in the tumor tissues for formation of tumor vasculature, and demonstrate the usefulness of TR-BME1 cells for studies on EPC related phenomena.