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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of Endothelial Colony Forming Cells Derived from Human Umbilical Cord Blood
Published on: April 13, 2012
Circulating endothelial progenitor cells as novel biological determinants of vascular function and risk
1Division of Cardiology, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. aquyyum@emory.edu
Insights
Reduced endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors may impair vascular repair, contributing to endothelial dysfunction and disease development. Low EPC counts correlate with dysfunction, suggesting impaired repair capacity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Cell Biology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Endothelial cell injury is central to atherosclerosis, influenced by cardiovascular risk factors.
- Endothelial dysfunction, a predictor of cardiovascular risk, is linked to impaired endothelial repair.
- Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a role in neovascularization and endothelial repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between circulating EPC levels and endothelial dysfunction in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors.
- To explore the potential contribution of diminished EPCs to endothelial repair impairment.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of circulating EPC counts in adult men with and without cardiovascular risk factors.
- Correlation of EPC counts with measures of endothelial dysfunction.
- Assessment of EPC senescence in subjects with and without endothelial dysfunction.
Main Results:
- Circulating EPC counts were reduced in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
- Endothelial dysfunction was strongly correlated with low EPC counts.
- EPCs from subjects with endothelial dysfunction exhibited increased senescence compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Diminished circulating EPC levels may impair endothelial repair capacity in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors.
- Reduced EPC availability could contribute to the development of endothelial dysfunction and vascular disease.
- EPC senescence may play a role in the pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction associated with cardiovascular risk.
Abstract:
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are found in circulating mononuclear cells, bone marrow and cord blood, and have been shown to incorporate into areas of postnatal neovascularization stimulated by either ischemia or endothelial denudation. Endothelial cell injury is a hallmark of atherosclerotic plaque development triggered by a variety of cardiovascular risk factors, and the magnitude of endothelial dysfunction appears to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. Several investigations have discovered that circulating levels of EPCs are diminished in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors which raises the possibility that this may contribute to endothelial dysfunction by impairing endothelial repair. In a study of adult men, it was found that the circulating EPC count was reduced in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Moreover, endothelial dysfunction was strongly correlated with EPC counts, such that subjects with risk factors developed endothelial dysfunction only if the EPC counts were low. EPCs of subjects with endothelial dysfunction were more senescent compared with an age-matched group without risk factors. These and other recent observations from experimental studies raise the possibility that vascular disease and dysfunction occur where injury is inflicted by exposure to risk factors in a setting of impaired repair capacity due to reduced availability of EPCs.
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