Low concentration of ethanol favors progenitor cell differentiation and neovascularization in high-fat diet-fed mice...

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and monocytic cells from bone marrow (BM) can be recruited to the injured endothelium and contribute to its regeneration. During metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, progenitor cell function is impaired. Several studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption prevents the development and progression of atherosclerosis in a variety of animal/mouse models and increases mobilization of progenitor cells. Along with these studies, we identify ethanol at low concentration as therapeutic tool to in vitro expand progenitor cells in order to obtain an adequate number of cells for their use in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. We evaluated the effects of ethanol on the phenotype of BM-derived cells from mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD). HFD did not induce changes in weight of mice but induced metabolic alterations. HFD feeding increased the differentiation of monocytic progenitors but not EPCs. Whereas ethanol at 0.6% is able to increase monocytic progenitor differentiation, 1% ethanol diminished it. Furthermore, ethanol at 0.6% increased the ability of progenitor cells to promote in vivo angiogenesis as well as secretome of BM-derived cells from mice fed with HFD, but not in mice fed normal diet. In conclusion, ethanol at low concentration is able to increase angiogenic abilities of progenitor cells from animals with early metabolic alterations.