Objective: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) characterized by the CD133+ marker, contribute to the neovascularization. Increasing EPC number in vitro could be a promising therapeutic tool. Human umbilical cord blood maintains a significant number of EPC, suggesting the possibility to use these cells to induce the revascularization of ischemic tissues. The aim of this study was to analyze the in vitro function of differentiated CD133+ cells.
Methods: Cells were characterized by flow cytometry, VEGF mRNA expression was evaluated by the RT-PCR analysis and the functionally by essays of capillary tubes formation.
Results: Differentiated cells lost EPC markers, maintained low levels of markers for hematopoietic and monocytic cell lines and increased the expression of adult endothelial cell markers. Differentiated cells expressed VEGF mRNA and were capable to induce in vitro capillary tubules formation.
Conclusion: CD133+ cells differentiated into endothelial cells in vitro are functionally active initiating the possibility of their use in future therapeutic applications.