Molecular analysis of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) subtypes reveals two distinct cell populations with different identities.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The term endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is currently used to refer to cell populations which are quite dissimilar in terms of biological properties. This study provides a detailed molecular fingerprint for two EPC subtypes: early EPCs (eEPCs) and outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs).

Methods

Human blood-derived eEPCs and OECs were characterised by using genome-wide transcriptional profiling, 2D protein electrophoresis, and electron microscopy. Comparative analysis at the transcript and protein level included monocytes and mature endothelial cells as reference cell types.

Results

Our data show that eEPCs and OECs have strikingly different gene expression signatures. Many highly expressed transcripts in eEPCs are haematopoietic specific (RUNX1, WAS, LYN) w

SUBMITTER: Medina RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2881111 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature