Distinct contribution of human cord blood-derived endothelial colony forming cells to liver and gut in a fetal sheep model.

ABSTRACT:

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Although the vasculogenic potential of circulating and cord blood (CB)-derived endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFC) has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, little is known about the inherent biologic ability of these cells to home to different organs and contribute to tissue-specific cell populations. Here we used a fetal sheep model of in utero transplantation to investigate and compare the intrinsic ability of human CB-derived ECFC to migrate to the liver and to the intestine, and to define ECFC's intrinsic ability to integrate and contribute to the cytoarchitecture of these same organs. ECFCs were transplanted by an intraperitoneal or intrahepatic route (IH) into fetal sheep at concentrations ranging from 1.1-2.6 × 10(6) cells/fetus. Recipients were evaluated a

SUBMITTER: Wood JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3396735 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature