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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Isolation of Murine Embryonic Hemogenic Endothelial Cells

Isolation of Murine Embryonic Hemogenic Endothelial Cells

Published on: June 17, 2016

Extraembryonic origin of circulating endothelial cells.

Luc Pardanaud¹, Anne Eichmann

¹Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, Paris, France. luc.pardanaud@college-de-france.fr

|October 25, 2011

Summary

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) originate from extra-embryonic tissues like the yolk sac and allantois, not the embryo proper. These cells are crucial for repairing ischemic tissues and tumor angiogenesis.

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Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Vascular biology
Cell biology

Background:

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are present in adult blood and bone marrow.
CECs are involved in revascularization of ischemic tissues and tumor angiogenesis.
The embryonic origin of CECs has not been previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the embryonic origin of circulating endothelial cells (CECs).
To determine the contribution of CECs to developing vasculature and repair processes.

Main Methods:

Quail-chick chimeras were used to trace cell origins.
Yolk-sac chimeras were created by grafting quail embryos onto chick yolk sacs and vice versa.
The QH1 antibody was employed to specifically identify quail endothelial cells.

Main Results:

CECs are generated in the yolk sac and mobilized during wound healing.
The allantois also contributes to CEC generation in situ.
The embryo proper does not produce CECs; they exclusively originate from extra-embryonic splanchnopleural mesoderm and endoderm.

Conclusions:

CECs originate exclusively from extra-embryonic territories.
Definitive hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial cells arise from intra-embryonic origins.
Understanding CEC origin is vital for cell and gene therapies targeting angiogenesis.