SPA患者循环EPCs及SDF-1-alpha与冠状动脉侧支循环的相关性分析

目的：研究冠状动脉严重狭窄稳定型心绞痛(Stable angina pectoris, SPA)患者循环内皮祖细胞（endothelial progenitor cells, EPCs）及基质细胞衍生因子（SDF）-1-alpha与冠状动脉侧支循环（CCC）形成的相关性,以期为治疗冠心病提供新的思路。方法：选择 2012 年8 月到2014 年12月在我院就诊的88 例冠状动脉严重狭窄的稳定型心绞痛患者（CCC 良好40 例、不良48 例）,均采集 外周血测定EPC 数量、体外生成血管能力,并用ELISA 法检测其血浆SDF-1alpha 水平,采用直线相关和Pearson 检验分析CCC良好 与不良者各指标间及与CCC 分级的相关性;将所有入选病例随机分为6 组,并分离外周血单个核细胞并分别加入不同的培养 液,培养7 天后体外测定EPCs 数量以及生成血管的能力,并通过ELISA 法检测培养液上清中VEGF 的蛋白水平。结果：CCC 不 良组EPCs 数量、体外生成血管能力及SDF-1-alpha水平均明显低于CCC 良好组（P<0.05）。体外生成血管能力、循环EPCs 数量以及 SDF-1alpha水平均与CCC分级呈现显著的正相关性（r =0.72、0.67、0.79,均P<0.05）;循环EPCs 数量、SDF-1alpha水平以及体外生成血 管能力亦均呈现显著正相关性（r =0.78、0.62,均P<0.05）。与PBS、SDF-1alpha+ AMD3100 及SDF-1alpha+ KI8751 干预物质比较,SDF-1琢 能够呈剂量依赖性的明显提高EPCs 数量、增强其体外生成血管的能力及VEGF水平（P<0.05）。结论：冠状动脉严重狭窄稳定型 心绞痛患者循环EPCs及SDF-1琢与CCC 形成有关,VEGF可能参与该过程。     

SPA患者循环EPCs及SDF-1α与冠状动脉侧支循环的相关性分析

目的:研究冠状动脉严重狭窄稳定型心绞痛(Stable angina pectoris,SPA)患者循环内皮祖细胞(endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs)及基质细胞衍生因子(SDF)-1α与冠状动脉侧支循环(CCC)形成的相关性,以期为治疗冠心病提供新的思路。方法:选择2012年8月到2014年12月在我院就诊的88例冠状动脉严重狭窄的稳定型心绞痛患者(CCC良好40例、不良48例),均采集外周血测定EPC数量、体外生成血管能力,并用ELISA法检测其血浆SDF-1α水平,采用直线相关和Pearson检验分析CCC良好与不良者各指标间及与CCC分级的相关性;将所有入选病例随机分为6组,并分离外周血单个核细胞并分别加入不同的培养液,培养7天后体外测定EPCs数量以及生成血管的能力,并通过ELISA法检测培养液上清中VEGF的蛋白水平。结果:CCC不良组EPCs数量、体外生成血管能力及SDF-1α水平均明显低于CCC良好组(P0.05)。体外生成血管能力、循环EPCs数量以及SDF-1α水平均与CCC分级呈现显著的正相关性(r=0.72、0.67、0.79,均P0.05);循环EPCs数量、SDF-1α水平以及体外生成血管能力亦均呈现显著正相关性(r=0.78、0.62,均P0.05)。与PBS、SDF-1α+AMD3100及SDF-1α+KI8751干预物质比较,SDF-1α能够呈剂量依赖性的明显提高EPCs数量、增强其体外生成血管的能力及VEGF水平(P0.05)。结论:冠状动脉严重狭窄稳定型心绞痛患者循环EPCs及SDF-1α与CCC形成有关,VEGF可能参与该过程。     

脑心清片对缺血性心脏病患者外周血中内皮祖细胞功能的影响

目的:观察脑心清片对缺血性心脏病(ischemic heart disease,IHD)患者外周血中内皮祖细胞(endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs)数量及功能的变化。方法:将40例IHD患者随机分为脑心清组30例和贝那普利组10例;用密度梯度离心法从外周血中分离单核细胞;分别观察治疗前后EPCs的粘附能力、迁移能力和体外生成血管能力。结果:脑心清组在治疗后IHD患者外周血中EPCs数量显著升高,其粘附能力、迁移能力和体外生成血管能力也明显改善。结论:脑心清片可以升高IHD患者外周血中EPCs数量并改善其功能。     

尼氟酸对晚期内皮祖细胞生物学特性的影响

目的:探讨ClCa通道抑制剂--尼氟酸(Niflumic,NFA)对大鼠骨髓来源的晚期内皮祖细胞(endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs)生物学特性的影响。方法:密度梯度离心法分离大鼠骨髓单核细胞,应用EGM-2完全培养液进行体外培养,以第三代或第四代的晚期EPCs作为靶细胞,应用RT-PCR检测晚期EPCs上是否存在Cl Ca通道标志基因TMEM16A和Cl Ca4的表达。采用CCK-8法、Ed U标记法、划痕实验、Boyden小室实验及Matrigel法分别检测10μmol/L NFA对细胞增殖、迁移及体外血管形成能力的影响;应用荧光定量PCR及流式细胞术检测内皮分化标志v WF和CD31基因及蛋白的表达。结果:晚期EPCs表达ClCa通道标志基因TMEM16A和ClCa4;NFA抑制晚期EPCs的迁移功能(P0.05);但对EPCs的增殖、分化及成血管能力有促进作用。NFA上调了晚期EPCs的CD31和v WF基因和蛋白表达。结论:NFA能促进EPCs的增殖、分化及成血管能力,抑制EPCs的迁移能力。NFA对EPCs生物学特性的这类影响将为心血管疾病治疗药物选择方面提供一定的参考依据。     

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。     

血脂康胶囊对高脂模型大鼠EPCs功能的影响

目的:高脂血症可增加心血管事件的发生率,本研究降脂红曲制剂血脂康胶囊对高脂模型大鼠的内皮祖细胞(endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs)生物学功能的影响。方法:给予Wistar大鼠高脂饲料30 d,造成高血脂大鼠模型,灌服血脂康胶囊。密度梯度离心法分别分离正常对照组,高脂模型组和血脂康治疗组大鼠骨髓单核细胞,应用EGM-2MV进行体外培养。以4~6代EPCs为靶细胞。采用Edu标记技术、CCK-8检测法、粘附能力测定试验、改良的Boyden小室、Matrigel法、荧光定量RT-PCR等方法分别检测EPCs增殖、粘附、迁移、体外成血管及单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(monocyte chemoattractant protein-1,MCP-1)等炎性因子的表达。结果:高血脂模型组大鼠EPCs的增殖、粘附、迁移及成血管能力均明显低于对照组,但炎症因子MCP-1表达则高于对照组;与高脂模型组EPCs比较,血脂康可明显促进EPCs的增殖、粘附、迁移及成血管,下调MCP-1的表达。结论:高脂状态下大鼠EPCs的增殖、粘附、迁移及成血管等生物学功能受损,血脂康能调整脂质代谢,改善高脂血症大鼠EPCs功能,从而起到保护血管内皮的功能,减少心血管疾病的发生。     

他汀类药物对外周血内皮祖细胞的影响

本文旨在探讨他汀类药物氟伐他汀对外周血内皮祖细胞(endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs)数量和功能的影响.用密度梯度离心从外周血获取单个核细胞,将其接种在人纤维连接蛋白(human fibronectin)包被的培养板中,培养7 d后,收集贴壁细胞,加入不同浓度氟伐他汀(分别为0.01、0.1、1、10μmol/L)和辛伐他汀(1 μmol/L),培养一定的时间(6、12、24、48 h).用激光共聚焦显微镜鉴定FITC-UEA-I和DiI-acLDL双染色阳性细胞为正在分化的EPCs,用流式细胞仪检测其表面标志进一步鉴定EPCs,在倒置荧光显微镜下计数.采用MTT比色法、改良的Boyden小室、粘附能力测定实验和体外血管生成试剂盒观察EPCs的增殖能力、迁移能力、粘附能力和体外血管生成能力.结果显示,氟伐他汀可显著增加外周血EPCs的数量,并且EPCs数量随氟伐他汀浓度增加及作用时间延长而增加,1 μmol/L浓度氟伐他汀作用24h对EPCs的数量影响最为显著(较对照组增加15倍,P＜0.05).在动物实验中,喂养氟伐他汀3周后,大鼠的EPCs也较对照组增加2倍(P＜0.05),进一步支持了体外实验的结果.氟伐他汀和辛伐他汀也显著改善外周血EPCs的粘附能力、迁移能力、增殖能力和体外血管生成的能力,相同浓度的氟伐他汀和辛伐他汀(1 μmol/L)对EPCs数量和功能的影响并无显著差异.上述观察结果提示他汀类药物可增加EPCs的数量,改善EPCs功能.     

地骨皮提取液对内皮祖细胞功能的影响

通过观察地骨皮提取液对高糖培养的人脐血内皮祖细胞(EPCs)的黏附、迁移、增殖等能力的影响,探讨地骨皮提取液对高糖所致的血管内皮损伤是否具有保护作用。分离人脐血单个核细胞,接种培养后收集贴壁细胞,采用双荧光染色法及ecNOS和Flk-1基因的表达对EPCs的生物学特征进行鉴定。将分离到的EPCs分成5组:正常对照NG组、高糖HG组、HG+地骨皮提取液不同浓度组(1 g/组、2 g/L组和4 g/L组);用重贴壁法测定EPCs黏附能力,改良Boyden小室法测定其迁移能力及CCK-8法测定增殖能力。结果显示:(1)HG组EPCs的黏附、迁移及增殖能力较NG组明显下降;(2)HG+地骨皮提取液不同浓度组EPCs黏附、迁移和增殖能力均比HG组高;对迁移和增殖能力的影响以2 g/L干预组效果最为明显。提示地骨皮提取液能部分恢复高糖对EPCs黏附、迁移及增殖能力的抑制,对高糖所致的血管内皮损伤具有保护作用。     

内皮祖细胞在炎症损伤修复中的作用和机制

内皮祖细胞（endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs）是出生后,可以在机体内分化为成熟内皮细胞的一种前体细胞,主要来源于骨髓。多种伴有血管内皮细胞损伤的疾病都可引起外周血EPCs数量变化。有研究显示EPCs参与炎性损伤修复,并且外周血EPCs数量与血管内皮损伤程度和疾病预后存在一定的相关关系。EPCs。通过动员、迁移、归巢和分化等步骤修复内皮。炎症反应中受损组织释放的基质细胞衍生因子、血管内皮生长因子可与EPCs相应的受体结合,通过内皮型一氧化氮合酶、基质金属蛋白酶9等途径调节内皮修复过程,这是EPCs分化为内皮细胞过程的主要调控机制。此外,EPCs还可通过旁分泌机制促进相邻的内皮细胞增殖分化。目前,EPCs在炎症领域仅用于内皮炎性损伤和疾病预后评估,但是EPCs在心血管疾病和组织工程领域应用研究的成功,为EPCs在炎症反应的诊断和治疗提供了新的思路。     

消渴丸对GK糖尿病大鼠内皮祖细胞功能的影响

目的:观察消渴丸对GK大鼠外周血中内皮祖细胞(endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs)数量及功能的影响。方法:消渴丸连续给药12周后测定并比较GK大鼠血清EPCs的粘附能力、迁移能力和体外生成血管能力。结果:消渴丸可使GK大鼠EPCs数量显著升高,其粘附能力、迁移能力和体外生成血管能力也明显改善。结论:消渴丸可以升高GK大鼠动脉血中EPCs数量并改善其功能。     

The potential of statin and stromal cell-derived factor-1 to promote angiogenesis

Angiogenesis requires the mobilization of progenitor cells from the bone marrow (BM) and homing of progenitor cells to ischemic tissue. The cholesterol lowering drug Statins can stimulate angiogenesis via mobilization of BM derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), promoting EPC migration, and inhibiting EPC apoptosis. The chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) augments EPC chemotaxis, facilitates EPC incorporation into the neovasculature. The combined use of a statin to mobilize EPCs and local over-expression of SDF-1 to augment EPC homing to ischemic muscle resulted in superior angiogenesis versus use of either agent alone. Their effects are through augmenting EPC mobilization, incorporation, proliferation, migration, and tube formation while inhibiting EPC apoptosis. Statin and SDF-1 therefore display synergism in promoting neovascularization by improving reperfusion of ischemic muscle, increasing progenitor cell presentation and capillary density in ischemic muscle, and diminishing apoptosis. These results suggest that the combination of statin and SDF-1 may be a new therapeutic strategy in the treatment of limb ischemia.     

Chemokine receptor CXCR7 mediates human endothelial progenitor cells survival, angiogenesis, but not proliferation

Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) is a critical regulator of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) mediated physiological and pathologic angiogenesis. It was considered to act via its unique receptor CXCR4 for a long time. CXCR7 is a second, recently identified receptor for SDF-1, and its role in human EPCs is unclear. In present study, CXCR7 was found to be scarcely expressed on the surface of human EPCs derived from cord blood, but considerable intracellular CXCR7 was detected, which differs from that on EPCs derived from rat bone marrow. CXCR7 failed to support SDF-1 induced human EPCs migration, proliferation, or nitric oxide (NO) production, but mediated human EPCs survival exclusively. Besides that, CXCR7 mediated EPCs tube formation along with CXCR4. Blocking CXCR7 with its antagonist CCX733 impaired SDF-1/CXCR4 induced EPCs adhesion to active HUVECs and trans-endothelial migration. Those results suggested that CXCR7 plays an important role in human cord blood derived EPCs in response to SDF-1.     

Hemin promotes proliferation and differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells via activation of AKT and ERK

Increased neovascularization is commonly observed in hemorrhagic plaques and associated with rupture of atherosclerotic lesions. This study aims to investigate whether hemin accumulated at the site of hematoma promotes neovascularization through affecting the growth and function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and the possible mechanism involved. Here we demonstrated that hemin promoted a significant increase in neovessel formation in matrigel plugs embedded in vivo and enhanced the proliferation and endothelial gene expression in EPCs in vitro. VEGF‐induced migration response and the capability to incorporate into the vascular networks were markedly enhanced in hemin‐treated EPCs. Hemin induced the phosphorylation of ERK and AKT but not p38 or JNK. The inhibition of AKT or ERK activation significantly attenuated the effect of hemin on cell proliferation. However, the enhanced migration response induced by hemin was significantly suppressed by the inhibition of AKT but not ERK. Hemin induced significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and hemin‐induced angiogenic response of EPCs was substantially reduced by treatment with N‐acetylcysteine. Collectively, these data support that hemin‐induced ROS mediates the activation of AKT and ERK signaling pathways, which in turn promotes the cell proliferation and function of EPCs. J. Cell. Physiol. 219: 617–625, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Synergistic vasculogenic effects of AMD3100 and stromal-cell-derived factor-1α in vasa nervorum of the sciatic nerve of mice with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Autologous endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) transplantation has been suggested as a potential therapeutic approach in diabetic neuropathy (DN). However, such treatment might be limited by safety concerns regarding possible unwanted proliferation or differentiation of the transplanted stem cells. An alternative approach is the stimulation of endogenous bone-marrow-derived EPC (BM-EPC) recruitment into ischemic lesions by the administration of stem cell mobilization agents or chemokines. We first tested the EPC mobilization effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and AMD3100 in a mouse model of diabetes and found that AMD3100 was effective as an EPC mobilization agent, whereas VEGF did not increase circulating EPCs in these animals. Because recent studies have suggested that deceased local expression of stromal-cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α in diabetes is the main cause of defective EPC migration, AMD3100 was administrated systemically to stimulate EPC mobilization and SDF-1α was injected locally to enhance its migration into the streptozotocin-induced DN mice model. This combined therapy increased local expression levels of vasculogenesis-associated factors and newly formed endothelial cells in the sciatic nerve, resulting in the restoration of the sciatic vasa nervorum. The treatment also improved the impaired conduction velocity of the sciatic nerve in DN mice. Thus, AMD3100 might be an effective EPC mobilization agent in diabetes, with local SDF-1α injection synergistically increasing vascularity in diabetic nerves. This represents a novel potential therapeutic option for DN patients.     

Effects of tumour necrosis factor-alpha on activity and nitric oxide synthase of endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood

The aim of this investigation was to determine whether tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) has any effect on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Total mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were plated on fibronectin-coated culture dishes. After 7 days culture, attached cells were stimulated with tumour necrosis factor-α (final concentrations: 0, 10, 20, 50 and 100 mg/l) for 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. EPCs were characterized as adherent cells double positive for DiLDL-uptake and lectin binding, by direct fluorescence staining. EPC proliferation and migration were assayed using the MTT assay and modified Boyden chamber assay, respectively. EPC adhesion assay was performed by re-plating those cells on fibronectin-coated dishes, and adherent cells were counted. Tube formation activity was assayed using a tube formation kit. Levels of apoptosis were revealed using an annexin V apoptosis detection kit. Vascular endothelial growth factor Receptor-1 (VEGF-R1) and stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) mRNA, assessed by real-time RT-PCR inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were assayed by western blot analysis. Incubation of EPCs with tumour necrosis factor-α reduced EPC proliferation, migration, adhesion, tube formation capacity, iNOS and eNOS in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Tumour necrosis factor-α reduced proliferation, migration, adhesion and tube formation capacity of EPCs. TNF-α increased EPC apoptosis level, reduced VEGF-R1 and SDF-1 mRNA expression; tumour necrosis factor-α also reduced iNOS and eNOS in the EPCs.     

Pleiotrophin induces nitric oxide dependent migration of endothelial progenitor cells

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is produced under ischemic conditions and has been shown to induce angiogenesis in vivo. We studied whether or not PTN exerts chemotaxis of pro-angiogenic early endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), a population of circulating cells that have been reported to participate in and stimulate angiogenesis. Chemotaxis of EPCs, isolated from blood of healthy humans (n = 5), was measured in transwell assays. PTN at 10-500 ng/ml elicited dose-dependent chemotaxis of both EPCs and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), but not of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) and T98G glioblastoma cells that lack PTN receptors. The degree of chemotaxis was comparable to that induced by the angiogenic factors VEGF and SDF-1alpha. Chemotaxis to PTN was blocked by the NOS inhibitors L-NNA and L-NMMA, the NO scavenger PTIO, the phosphoinositide-3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin, and the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ, suggesting dependence of EPC chemotaxis on these pathways. PTN induced NOS-dependent production of NO to a similar degree as did VEGF, as indicated by the NO indicator DAF-2. PTN increased proliferation in EPCs and HUVECs to a similar extent as VEGF, but did not induce proliferation of CASMCs. While L-NNA abolished PTN-induced migration in EPCs and HUVECs, it did not inhibit PTN- and VEGF-enhanced proliferation and also caused proliferation by itself. These data suggest that PTN may mediate its pro-angiogenic effects by increasing the local number of not only endothelial cells but also early EPCs at angiogenic sites.     

Regulation of plasticity and biological features of endothelial progenitor cells by MSC-derived SDF-1

Bone marrow (BM) is a source of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). MSCs provide a specific niche in the BM and biological features of EPCs may be changed with this niche. Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) secreted from primary BM-MSCs and biological features of this niche on EPC development are still yet to be understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of SDF-1 produced by MSCs on EPC development. We applied the CRISPR/Cas9 system for the knock-out of the SDF-1 gene in BM-derived MSCs. BM-derived EPCs were then cocultured with MSCs^SDF-1−/− or MSCs^SDF-1+/+ to identify the role of MSC-derived SDF-1α on proliferation, migration and angiogenic activity of EPCs. Next, pre-expanded EPCs were harvested and co-transplanted with MSCs^SDF-1−/− or MSCs^SDF-1+/+ into sublethally irradiated mice to analyze the potency of these cells for marrow reconstitution. Our results revealed that proliferation, colony formation, migration and angiogenic activity of EPCs was significantly increased after coculture with MSCs^SDF-1+/+. We also found that co-transplantation of EPCs with MSCs^SDF-1+/+, in contrast to MSCs^SDF-1−/−, into irradiated mice resulted in marrow repopulation and hematologic recovery, leading to improved survival of transplanted mice. In conclusions, MSC-derived SDF-1 niche plays an important role in the development of EPCs and this niche is essential for bone marrow repopulation by these cells and can enhance the efficiency of EPC therapy for ischemic diseases.     

The role of CXCR7 on the adhesion, proliferation and angiogenesis of endothelial progenitor cells

Previous studies confirmed that stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) was a principal regulator of retention, migration and mobilization of haematopoietic stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) during steady-state homeostasis and injury. CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) has been considered as the unique receptor of SDF-1 and as the only mediator of SDF-1-induced biological effects for many years. However, recent studies found that SDF-1 could bind to not only CXCR4 but also CXC chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7). The evidence that SDF-1 binds to the CXCR7 raises a concern how to distinguish the potential contribution of the SDF-1/CXCR7 pathway from SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway in all the processes that were previously attributed to SDF-1/CXCR4. In this study, the role of CXCR7 in EPCs was investigated in vitro. RT-PCR, Western blot and flow cytometry assay demonstrate that both CXCR4 and CXCR7 were expressed highly in EPCs. The adhesion of EPCs induced by SDF-1 was inhibited by blocking either CXCR4 or CXCR7 with their antibodies or antagonists. SDF-1 regulated the migration of EPCs via CXCR4 but not CXCR7. However, the transendothelial migration of EPCs was inhibited by either blocking of CXCR4 or CXCR7. Both CXCR7 and CXCR4 are essential for the tube formation of EPCs induced by SDF-1. These results suggested that both CXCR7 and CXCR4 are important for EPCs in response to SDF-1, indicating that CXCR7 may be another potential target molecule for angiogenesis-dependent diseases.