Existence, functional impairment, and lung repair potential of endothelial colony-forming cells in oxygen-induced arrested alveolar growth.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and emphysema are life-threatening diseases resulting from impaired alveolar development or alveolar destruction. Both conditions lack effective therapies. Angiogenic growth factors promote alveolar growth and contribute to alveolar maintenance. Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) represent a subset of circulating and resident endothelial cells capable of self-renewal and de novo vessel formation. We hypothesized that resident ECFCs exist in the developing lung, that they are impaired during arrested alveolar growth in experimental bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and that exogenous ECFCs restore disrupted alveolar growth.

Methods and results

Human fetal and neonatal rat lungs contain ECFCs with robust proliferative potential, secondary

SUBMITTER: Alphonse RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4162516 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature