Circulating Proangiogenic Cells

Stem cell therapy could be a promising option for the treatment of vascular diseases. The finding of stem/progenitor cells in circulating blood and the vessel wall indicates that endogenous (adult) stem cells have the ability to repair endothelial cells, thereby restoring the integrity of the vessel and most importantly its function. However, embryonic stem cells, which are a population of undifferentiated cells that can develop into any type of cells in the body including endothelial and smooth muscle cells, occur as an another source for stem cell therapy. Finally, recent progress in somatic cell reprogramming (ie, induced pluripotent stem [iPS] cells), propelled the research field toward more attractive and promising heights. Overall, significant progress in stem cell research has been made recently, especially the mechanisms of stem cell activation, homing, and differentiation in vascular repair and remodeling. In this regard, many recent publications in ATVB have provided further insight into the functional role of stem/ progenitor cells in (1) rescuing ischemic tissues, (2) the stem cell–derived smooth muscle accumulation in neointima, and (3) the stem cell differentiation into vascular lineages. In the present article, we will highlight these recent publications within a brief context of the literature on vascular stem/ progenitor cells.