Can Endothelial Progenitor Cells Treat Patients With Refractory Angina?

Can endothelial progenitor cells treat patients with refractory angina?

VEGF 165 Gene Therapy for Patients with Refractory Angina: Mobilization of Endothelial Progenitor Cells

BACKGROUND Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) with the capacity for proliferation and differentiation into mature endothelial cells, thus contributing to the angiogenic process. OBJECTIVE We sought to assess the behavior of EPCs in patients with ischemic heart disease and refractory angina who received an intramyocardial injec...

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with unstable angina: association with systemic inflammation.

BACKGROUND Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are present in peripheral blood and can develop a functional endothelial phenotype. The number and function of circulating EPCs are altered in atherosclerosis, diabetes, and after myocardial infarction and EPCs have been shown to promote postnatal angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. We investigated the number and adhesive properties of EPCs from patien...

Selected CD133⁺ progenitor cells to promote angiogenesis in patients with refractory angina: final results of the PROGENITOR randomized trial.

RATIONALE Refractory angina constitutes a clinical problem. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the safety and the feasibility of transendocardial injection of CD133(+) cells to foster angiogenesis in patients with refractory angina. METHODS AND RESULTS In this randomized, double-blinded, multicenter controlled trial, eligible patients were treated with granulocyte colony-stimulat...

Relaxin' with endothelial progenitor cells.