细胞因子对内皮祖细胞功能影响的研究进展

内皮祖细胞(EPCs)是一种具有较强增殖能力的前体细胞,血管损伤或者缺血会刺激骨髓EPCs动员,迁移、归巢于相应的靶位,然后分化为内皮细胞(ECs),从而参与血管修复和血管新生。因此,EPCs的成功发现为缺血性和血管损伤性疾病的治疗提供了新策略。但是EPCs存在动员率低、靶向性较差和功能不全等问题。大量研究显示细胞因子对EPCs的动员、归巢、增殖和分化等均起着重要的调节作用,同时,通过调控细胞因子能改善EPCs的功能活性,因此选择合适的细胞因子来提高EPCs功能变得非常重要。现总结了近年来细胞因子对EPCs功能影响的研究进展,并提出有待解决的问题和作一定的展望。     

3，4苯并芘对内皮祖细胞生物学功能的影响

目的研究3,4苯并芘（BaP）对人脐血来源的内皮祖细胞（EPC）生物学功能的影响。方法密度梯度离心法分离获取人脐血单个核细胞,采用贴壁培养法培养MNC中的EPC,通过Dil标记的乙酰化低密度脂蛋白（Dil-ac-LDL）摄取实验和FITC标记的植物凝集素（FITC-UEA-I lectin）结合实验鉴定细胞。消化收集第3代细胞,分别采用细胞计数试剂盒（CCK-8）、黏附能力测定实验、Transwell小室法及Matrigel体外成血管试验观察BaP对EPC增殖能力、粘附能力、迁移能力及成血管能力的影响,并检测各组细胞培养上清液SOD含量。采用单因素方差分析及LSD-t检验进行统计学分析。结果采用贴壁培养法能成功培养出EPC;与正常对照组相比,BaP呈浓度依赖性降低EPC的增殖能力{正常对照组OD（1.02±0.04）显著高于BaP各组[BaP①组OD（0.66±0.04）,BaP②组OD（0.55±0.04）,BaP③组OD（0.35±0.05）,均P〈0.01],BaP染毒组间增殖能力差异亦有统计学意义（两两比较,均P〈0.01）};与正常对照组比较,BaP呈浓度依赖性降低EPC的黏附能力{正常对照组[（117.50±17.16）个/200倍镜]显著高于BaP各组[BaP①组（80.00±14.46）个/200倍镜,BaP②组（66.00±9.06）个/200倍镜,BaP③组（49.80±10.72）个/200倍镜,均P〈0.01],BaP染毒组间黏附能力差异亦有统计学意义（两两比较,均P〈0.05）};与正常对照组相比,EPC的迁移能力亦呈BaP浓度依赖性降低{正常对照组[（46.10±4.51）个/400倍镜]显著高于BaP各组[BaP①组（35.50±4.95）个/400倍镜,BaP②组（26.80±4.08）个/400倍镜,BaP③组（19.50±2.84）个/400倍镜,均P〈0.01],BaP染毒组间迁移能力差异亦有统计学意义（两两比较,均P〈0.01）};与正常对照组比较,EPC的成血管能力亦呈BaP浓度依赖性降低{正常对照组[（33.20±3.70）个/100倍镜]显著高于BaP各组[BaP①组（22.00±3.39）个/100倍镜,BaP②组（16.20±2.59）个/100倍镜,BaP③组（10.80±2.39）个/100倍镜,均P〈0.01],BaP染毒组间成血管能力差异亦有统计学意义（两两比较,均P〈0.05）}。同时细胞培养上清液中SOD的活力也呈BaP浓度依赖性地降低{正常对照组[（22.6±2.19）U/ml]高于BaP各组[BaP①组（15.94±1.68）U/ml,BaP②组（12.5±1.58）U/ml,BaP③组（6.9±1.55）U/ml,均P〈0.01],BaP染毒组间SOD活力差异亦有统计学意义（两两比较,均P〈0.01）}。结论 BaP体外诱导显著影响EPC的多种生物学功能,其机制可能与氧化损伤有关。     

过氧化氢对内皮祖细胞凋亡相关蛋白表达的影响

目的:比较不同浓度过氧化氢(hydrogen peroxide,H2O2)对人外周血来源的内皮祖细胞(endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs)生存能力的改变及其对凋亡相关蛋白表达的影响。方法:采用密度梯度离心法和差速贴壁法从人外周静脉血中分离培养内皮祖细胞。选取传代后第3代EPCs作为研究对象,以终浓度分别为50μmol/L、100μmol/L、150μmol/L、200μmol/L、300μmol/L和400μmol/L的过氧化氢处理内皮祖细胞12 h,同时设立正常处理对照组。CCK-8法检测各组内皮祖细胞生存能力的差异;Western blot分析各组内皮祖细胞中凋亡相关蛋白Bax、Bcl-2和p53的蛋白表达情况。结果:与对照组相比,在浓度为50μmol/L、100μmol/L和150μmol/L过氧化氢处理组中细胞存活能力逐渐增强,促凋亡蛋白Bax、p53随之下调,抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2则显著上调;在浓度为200μmol/L、300μmol/L和400μmol/L过氧化氢处理组中细胞生存能力相对于正常对照组逐渐减弱,促凋亡蛋白Bax、p53表达水平逐渐增加,抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达水平下降。结论:过氧化氢对内皮祖细胞存活能力和凋亡相关蛋白Bax、Bcl-2、p53表达的影响均呈双相性变化。     

内皮祖细胞在炎症损伤修复中的作用和机制

内皮祖细胞（endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs）是出生后,可以在机体内分化为成熟内皮细胞的一种前体细胞,主要来源于骨髓。多种伴有血管内皮细胞损伤的疾病都可引起外周血EPCs数量变化。有研究显示EPCs参与炎性损伤修复,并且外周血EPCs数量与血管内皮损伤程度和疾病预后存在一定的相关关系。EPCs。通过动员、迁移、归巢和分化等步骤修复内皮。炎症反应中受损组织释放的基质细胞衍生因子、血管内皮生长因子可与EPCs相应的受体结合,通过内皮型一氧化氮合酶、基质金属蛋白酶9等途径调节内皮修复过程,这是EPCs分化为内皮细胞过程的主要调控机制。此外,EPCs还可通过旁分泌机制促进相邻的内皮细胞增殖分化。目前,EPCs在炎症领域仅用于内皮炎性损伤和疾病预后评估,但是EPCs在心血管疾病和组织工程领域应用研究的成功,为EPCs在炎症反应的诊断和治疗提供了新的思路。     

地骨皮提取液对内皮祖细胞功能的影响

通过观察地骨皮提取液对高糖培养的人脐血内皮祖细胞(EPCs)的黏附、迁移、增殖等能力的影响,探讨地骨皮提取液对高糖所致的血管内皮损伤是否具有保护作用。分离人脐血单个核细胞,接种培养后收集贴壁细胞,采用双荧光染色法及ecNOS和Flk-1基因的表达对EPCs的生物学特征进行鉴定。将分离到的EPCs分成5组:正常对照NG组、高糖HG组、HG+地骨皮提取液不同浓度组(1 g/组、2 g/L组和4 g/L组);用重贴壁法测定EPCs黏附能力,改良Boyden小室法测定其迁移能力及CCK-8法测定增殖能力。结果显示:(1)HG组EPCs的黏附、迁移及增殖能力较NG组明显下降;(2)HG+地骨皮提取液不同浓度组EPCs黏附、迁移和增殖能力均比HG组高;对迁移和增殖能力的影响以2 g/L干预组效果最为明显。提示地骨皮提取液能部分恢复高糖对EPCs黏附、迁移及增殖能力的抑制,对高糖所致的血管内皮损伤具有保护作用。     

肝细胞生长因子对骨髓内皮祖细胞的动员作用

目的: 分析肝细胞生长因子(HGF)能否动员骨髓内皮祖细胞,以及动员的内皮祖细胞能否参与创伤修复时的血管新生和内皮修复.方法: 将腺病毒HGF载体(adenovirus vector encoding HGF gene, Ad-HGF)经尾静脉注射到Balb/c小鼠体内,用ELISA方法检测血浆HGF水平的变化;用流式细胞术检测外周血CD34 细胞含量变化;对外周血单个核细胞进行分离、培养,并对生长的细胞克隆进行内皮细胞表面标志Tie-2、vW因子的免疫组化检测.建立雌性小鼠CCl4肝损伤模型,静脉移植HGF处理后雄性小鼠外周血单个核细胞到其体内,4 W后利用原位杂交技术检测新生肝组织中是否存在雄性细胞.结果: 注射Ad-HGF能明显提高小鼠血浆的HGF水平,并使外周血中以CD34、Tie-2和vW因子等为标志的内皮祖细胞的数量显著增多.这些细胞参与肝损伤修复时的血管新生.结论: HGF对骨髓内皮祖细胞具有明显的动员作用.     

间歇运动对心梗大鼠心肌氧化应激和炎症的影响及其机制

目的:探讨间歇运动激活心肌梗死(MI)大鼠SIRT1-Nox4-ROS通路抑制心脏氧化应激和炎症的作用.方法:选取雄性SD大鼠30只,随机分为假手术对照(C)组,心肌梗死(MI)组和心梗+间歇运动(ME)组,每组10只.MI组采用心脏左冠状动脉前降支(LAD)结扎法,建立MI模型.C组大鼠实施假手术,ME组大鼠在MI手...     

电磁辐射对大鼠内皮祖细胞和肾脏组织学的影响

目的:研究电磁辐射对体外培养骨髓来源的内皮祖细胞(EPCs)增殖、迁移、黏附能力的影响,并探讨其与肾脏疾病的可能关系。方法:密度梯度离心法获取大鼠骨髓单个核细胞(MNCs),接种至纤维连接素包被的培养板上,培养6d后进行免疫细胞化学和免疫荧光鉴定EPCs。采用MTT比色法、Transwell小室和黏附能力测定实验,观察平均功率密度为65mW/cm2,时间20min的电磁辐射对EPCs的增殖、迁移、黏附能力的影响;同等剂量全身照射大鼠,光镜和透射电镜观察大鼠肾脏组织学和超微结构的变化。结果:从大鼠骨髓能成功分离培养获得EPCs。EPCs的增殖、迁移、黏附能力较对照组显著下降;大鼠接受全身照射后各时相点无明显组织学改变,但超微结构显示在照射后3h后开始出现肾小球毛细血管袢足突肿胀,12h后出现部分足突融合。结论:电磁辐射导致EPCs生物功能显著减弱,肾小球超微结构改变,电磁辐射可能与起肾脏疾病的发生有关。     

电磁辐射对大鼠内皮祖细胞和肾脏组织学的影响

目的：研究电磁辐射对体外培养骨髓来源的内皮祖细胞（EPCs）增殖、迁移、黏附能力的影响,并探讨其与肾脏疾病的可能关系。方法：密度梯度离心法获取大鼠骨髓单个核细胞（MNCs）,接种至纤维连接素包被的培养板上,培养6d后进行免疫细胞化学和免疫荧光鉴定EPCs。采用MTT比色法、Transwell小室和黏附能力测定实验,观察平均功率密度为65mW/cm2,时间20min的电磁辐射对EPCs的增殖、迁移、黏附能力的影响;同等剂量全身照射大鼠,光镜和透射电镜观察大鼠肾脏组织学和超微结构的变化。结果：从大鼠骨髓能成功分离培养获得EPCs。EPCs的增殖、迁移、黏附能力较对照组显著下降;大鼠接受全身照射后各时相点无明显组织学改变,但超微结构显示在照射后3h后开始出现肾小球毛细血管袢足突肿胀,12h后出现部分足突融合。结论：电磁辐射导致EPCs生物功能显著减弱,肾小球超微结构改变,电磁辐射可能与起肾脏疾病的发生有关。     

粒细胞集落刺激因子动员内皮祖细胞预防再狭窄的研究

目的:观察粒细胞集落刺激因子是否能通过加速内皮修复预防再狭窄,并探讨该作用与其动员效应即EPCs数量和功能变化的相关性.方法:30只SD大鼠随机均分为假手术组、损伤未干预组和G-CSF组,后两组行颈总动脉球囊损造模,G-CSF组连续给药7天后观察各组外周血内皮祖细胞的数量和增值、粘附、迁移功能,4周后观察再狭窄和再内皮化程度.结果:G-CSF组再内皮化率高于对照组,再狭窄率低于对照组,再内皮化率和再狭窄率呈线性负相关;G-CSF组内皮祖细胞数量明显增加,内皮祖细胞增值、粘附、迁移功能也明显提高.结论:G-CSF通过加速内皮修复能预防再狭窄,该作用与其动员效应即内皮祖细胞数量的增加和增值、粘附、迁移功能的提高有关.     

Peroxisomes, oxidative stress, and inflammation

Peroxisomes are intracellular organelles mediating a wide variety of biosynthetic and biodegradative reactions.Included among these are the metabolism of hydrogen peroxide and other reactive species,molecules whose levels help define the oxidative state of cells.Loss of oxidative equilibrium in cells of tissues and organs potentiates inflammatory responses which can ultimately trigger human disease.The goal of this article is to review evidence for connections between peroxisome function,oxidative stress,and inflammation in the context of human health and degenerative disease.Dysregulated points in this nexus are identified and potential remedial approaches are presented.     

Adiponectin promotes endothelial progenitor cell number and function

Obesity-linked diseases are associated with suppressed endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) function. Adiponectin is an adipose-derived protein that is downregulated in obese and diabetic subjects. Here, we investigated the effects of adiponectin on EPCs. EPC levels did not increase in adiponectin deficient (APN-KO) in response to hindlimb ischemia. Adenovirus-mediated delivery of adiponectin increased EPC levels in both WT and APN-KO mice. Incubation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with adiponectin led to an increase of the number of EPCs. Adiponectin induced EPC differentiation into network structures and served as a chemoattractant in EPC migration assays. These data suggest that hypoadiponectinemia may contribute to the depression of EPC levels that are observed in patients with obesity-related cardiovascular disorders.     

Role of endothelial progenitor cells in cancer progression

Tumor-associated neovasculature is a critical therapeutic target; however, despite significant progress made in the clinical efficacy of anti-vessel drugs, the effect of these agents remains transient: over time, most patients develop resistance, which inevitably leads to tumor progression. To develop more effective treatments, it is imperative that we better understand the mechanisms involved in tumor vessel formation, how they participate to the tumor progression and metastasis, and the best way to target them.     

Early-outgrowth of endothelial progenitor cells can function as antigen-presenting cells

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been recently found to exist circulating in peripheral blood of adults, and home to sites of neovascularization in peripheral tissues. They can also be differentiated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs). In tumor tissues, EPCs are found in highly vascularized lesions. Few reports exist in the literature concerning the characteristics of EPCs, especially related to their surface antigen expressions, except for endothelial markers. Here, we aimed to investigate the surface expression of differentiation markers, and the functional activities of early-outgrowth of EPCs (EO-EPCs), especially focusing on their antigen-presenting ability. EO-EPCs were generated from PBMNCs, by culture in the presence of angiogenic factors. These EO-EPCs had the morphological and functional features of endothelial cells and, additionally, they shared antigen-presenting ability. They induced the proliferation of allogeneic lymphocytes in a mixed-lymphocyte reaction, and could generate cytotoxic lymphocytes, with the ability to lyze tumor cells in an antigen-specific manner. The antigen-presenting ability of EO-EPCs, however, was weaker than that of monocyte-derived dendritic cells, but stronger than peripheral blood monocytes. Since EO-EPCs play an important role in the development of tumor angiogenesis, targeting EPCs would be an effective anti-angiogenic strategy. Alternatively, due to their antigen-presenting ability, EO-EPCs can be used as the effectors of anti-tumor immunotherapy. Since they share endothelial antigens, the activation of a cellular immunity against angiogenic vessels can be expected. In conclusion, EO-EPCs should be an interesting alternative for the development of new therapeutic strategies to combat cancer, either as the effectors or as the targets of cancer immunotherapy.     

Persistent response of Fanconi anemia haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to oxidative stress

Oxidative stress is considered as an important pathogenic factor in many human diseases including Fanconi anemia (FA), an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome with extremely high risk of leukemic transformation. Members of the FA protein family are involved in DNA damage and other cellular stress responses. Loss of FA proteins renders cells hypersensitive to oxidative stress and cancer transformation. However, how FA cells respond to oxidative DNA damage remains unclear. By using an in vivo stress-response mouse strain expressing the Gadd45β-luciferase transgene, we show here that haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from mice deficient for the FA gene Fanca or Fancc persistently responded to oxidative stress. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage, particularly in oxidative damage-sensitive genes, was responsible for the long-lasting response in FA HSPCs. Furthermore, genetic correction of Fanca deficiency almost completely abolished the persistent oxidative stress-induced G₂/M arrest and DNA damage response in vivo. Our study suggests that FA pathway is an integral part of a versatile cellular mechanism by which HSPCs respond to oxidative stress.     

Translating preclinical findings of (endothelial) progenitor cell mobilization into the clinic; from bedside to bench and back

It is generally accepted that angiogenesis plays a major role in tumor growth and numerous targeting agents directed against angiogenesis pathways have been developed and approved for clinical use. In the past years the concept of angiogenesis has developed into a multi-faceted process in which, besides local activation and division of endothelial cells, bone marrow derived progenitor cells (BMDPCs) contribute to neovascularization. A multitude of preclinical and clinical data indicates that the release of BMDPCs influences the response to certain anti-cancer modalities. In this review we provide an overview of all the preclinical and clinical studies contributing to this hypothesis and translate these findings to the clinic by pointing out the clinical implications these findings might have. The recent insight in the mechanism of a systemic host response, in response to various treatment modalities has shed new light on the mechanism of tumor regrowth, early recurrence and metastasis formation during or after treatment. This provides various new targets for therapy which can be used to improve conventional chemotherapy. Furthermore it provides a potential explanation why bevacizumab selectively enhances the effectiveness of only certain types of chemotherapy.     

Characteristics of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells in aged mice

Evidence for dysfunction of endothelial repair in aged mice was sought by studying the pattern of induced differentiation, quantity, and function of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in aged mice. The CD117-positive stem cell population was separated from bone marrow by magnetic activated cell-sorting system (MACS), and EPCs were defined by demonstrating the expression of CD117+CD34+Flk-1+ by flow cytometry. After 7 days of culture, the number of clones formed was counted, and proliferation and migration of EPCs were analyzed by MTT[3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] assay and modified Boyden chamber assay. The results demonstrated that compared to the control group, the quantity of bone marrow-derived CD117+ stem cells and EPCs, as well as the proliferation, migration, the number of clones formed, and phagocytotic function of EPCs were significantly reduced in aged mice. There were no significant differences in the morphology and induced differentiation pattern of EPCs between the aged mouse group and the control group. Authors suggest that the dysfunction of EPCs may serve as a surrogate parameter of vascular function in old mice.     

Protective properties of artichoke (Cynara scolymus) against oxidative stress induced in cultured endothelial cells and monocytes

It is currently believed that oxidative stress and inflammation play a significant role in atherogenesis. Artichoke extract exhibits hypolipemic properties and contains numerous active substances with antioxidant properties in vitro. We have studied the influence of aqueous and ethanolic extracts from artichoke on intracellular oxidative stress stimulated by inflammatory mediators (TNFalpha and LPS) and ox-LDL in endothelial cells and monocytes. Oxidative stress which reflects the intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was followed by measuring the oxidation of 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH) to 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF). Agueous and ethanolic extracts from artichoke were found to inhibit basal and stimulated ROS production in endothelial cells and monocytes in dose dependent manner. In endothelial cells, the ethanolic extract (50 microg/ml) reduced ox-LDL-induced intracellular ROS production by 60% (p<0,001) while aqueous extract (50 microg/ml) by 43% (p<0,01). The ethanolic extract (50 microg/ml) reduced ox-LDL-induced intracellular ROS production in monocytes by 76% (p<0,01). Effective concentrations (25-100 microg/ml) were well below the cytotoxic levels of the extracts which started at 1 mg/ml as assessed by LDH leakage and trypan blue exclusion. Penetration of some active substances into the cells was necessary for inhibition to take place as juged from the effect of preincubation time. These results demonstrate that artichoke extracts have marked protective properties against oxidative stress induced by inflammatory mediators and ox-LDL in cultured endothelial cells and monocytes.     

In vitro differentiation characteristics of cultured human mononuclear cells-implications for endothelial progenitor cell biology

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. By use of quantitative uptake of DiLDL and lectin staining, EPCs have been characterized reliably. However, the exact nature and function of this cell population still remains poorly defined. In an attempt to further clarify the cell surface characteristics of EPCs, mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from human blood and cell surface expression patterns were defined by FACS analysis before and after differentiation for 1-10 days in cell culture. "Classical" double staining for DiLDL and Ulex europaeus increases to 89.2 /- 0.05 after 10 days in culture. Looking at EPC-specific markers by FACS analysis, 0.18 +/- 0.11% of freshly isolated MNCs express CD34, 0.13 +/- 0.08% CD133, 0.59 +/-0.51% VEGFr2, 0.01 +/- 0.02% CD34/VEGFr2, 0.09 +/- 0.05% CD34/CD133, 0.58 +/- 0.13% CD34/CD31, and 0.02 +/- 0.01% CD34/CD146, respectively. Induction of the endothelial phenotype is evidenced by positive staining for VEGFr2, CD146, and CD31, and occurs in co-expression with stem cell markers in less than 2 +/- 0.52% of cultured cells. Expression of CD34 increases to 0.38 +/- 0.10% after 10 days, whereas the CD133(+) cell population shows an initial peak at 24h (0.29 +/- 0.18%) before decreasing to 0.15 +/- 0.02% at day 10. EPCs co-expressing CD34/CD133 increase to 0.19 +/- 0.09% after 10 days, and EPCs double-positive for CD34/VEGFr2 increase to 1.45 +/- 1.03%. Looking at leukocyte, lymphocyte, and monocyte lineage markers, 56.27 +/- 0.15% of freshly isolated MNCs express CD45, 7.13 +/- 0.02% CD14, and 38.65 +/- 0.01% CD3. Over the 10-day culture period, expression of CD45 decreases to 28.48 +/- 0.18%, CD3 to 23.11 +/- 0.02%, and CD14 to 0.09 +/- 0.02%. Cells co-expressing CD3/CD45 decrease from 38.88 +/- 0.33% to 24.86 +/- 2.49% after 10 days in culture. These findings extend present knowledge by showing that human MNCs differentiate at a very low rate to EPCs, while a majority of the cultured cell population remain committed to the leukocyte or lymphocyte lineage. Careful surface marker analysis might be necessary when using in vitro EPC differentiation systems.