Vascular Stem/Progenitor Cells in Vessel Injury and Repair

Abstract

Vascular repair upon vessel injury is essential for the maintenance of arterial homeostasis and function. Stem/progenitor cells were demonstrated to play a crucial role in regeneration and replenishment of damaged vascular cells during vascular repair. Previous studies revealed that myeloid stem/progenitor cells were the main sources of tissue regeneration after vascular injury. However, accumulating evidences from developing lineage tracing studies indicate that various populations of vessel-resident stem/progenitor cells play specific roles in different process of vessel injury and repair. In response to shear stress, inflammation, or other risk factors-induced vascular injury, these vascular stem/progenitor cells can be activated and consequently differentiate into different types of vascular wall cells to participate in vascular repair. In this review, mechanisms that contribute to stem/progenitor cell differentiation and vascular repair are described. Targeting these mechanisms has potential to improve outcome of diseases that are characterized by vascular injury, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, restenosis, and aortic aneurysm/dissection. Future studies on potential stem cell-based therapy are also highlighted.

The Impact of Modern Anti-Diabetic Treatment on Endothelial Progenitor Cells

“…In addition, there are certain enzymes involved in this EPC mobilization like matrix metalloproteinase 8 and 9 (MMP-9) that inactivate retention factors at the site of EPCs' origin [30,31]. Blood glucose, erythropoietin, thyroid hormones, and estrogen may modulate EPC mobilization [11,27,32].…”

Therapeutic Strategy of Mesenchymal-Stem-Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Regenerative Medicine

“…Unlike embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, general stem cells, which are more abundant during early childhood than adulthood, support human growth. Stem cells, also called tissue stem cells, such as adult stem cells or somatic stem cells, are still present at maturity when apparent growth ceases and serve to replenish cells in damaged tissue throughout life [ 139 , 140 ]. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) present in the bone marrow have been studied for more than half a century and are being actively applied clinically [ 141 ].…”

Vascular Progenitor Cells: From Cancer to Tissue Repair

“…In this process, a leading role is played by vascular progenitor cells. Pericytes, mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial (EPCs) and smooth muscle progenitor cells (SMPCs) are a type of undifferentiated cells that are activated in the regeneration and replenishment upon vascular injury [ 1 ]. The organization of the vascular wall is well structured and consists of three different main functional layers: the intima, a single layer of endothelial cells, which provides an interface between blood and smooth muscle and contains vascular stem cells which are CD34 and c-kit-positive; the media, including smooth muscle cells, collagen and elastin; and the adventitia composed of undifferentiated dendritic cells, connective tissue, vasa vasorum and other cells including fibroblasts, pericytes, and cells CD34, Sca-1, c-kit, NG2 and GII1-positive.…”

“…To resolve the vascular damage, the progenitor cells are mobilized in the injured area and then they begin to differentiate and form a new vascular wall, with the aim of reorganizing themself into a new intima layer, the neointima [ 1 , 12 ]. The process is affected and regulated by the microenvironment, which maintains the dynamic equilibrium around the vessels: nerve fibers, adipose and immune tissues with the release of cytokines and vasoactive factors contribute directly or indirectly to the proliferation and remodeling of the injured vessel wall [ 13 ].…”