Tumor progression is associated with the release of signaling substances from the primary tumor into the bloodstream. Tumor-derived cytokines are known to promote the mobilization and the recruitment of cells from the bone marrow, including endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). Here, we examined whether such paracrine influence could also influence the capacity of EPC to interfere with circulatin...

The desaturation of [1-(14)C] 18:3n-3 to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) is enhanced in an essential fatty acid deficient cell line (EPC-EFAD) in comparison with the parent cell line (EPC) from carp. In the present study, the effects of DHA on lipid and fatty acid compositions, and the metabolism of [1-(14)C]18:3n-3 were investigated in EPC-EFAD cells in comparison with EPC cells. DHA suppl...

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) contribute to repair and maintenance of the vascular system, but in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the number and function of EPC may be affected by kidney dysfunction. We assessed numbers and the angiogenic function of EPC from patients with CKD in relation to disease progression. In a cross-sectional, prospective study, 50 patients with varying ...

AIMS The mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and their functioning in postnatal neovascularization are tightly regulated. To identify new modulators of EPC homeostasis, we screened biologically active prostaglandin E compounds for their effects on EPC production, trafficking and function. METHODS AND RESULTS We found that EPC are a rich source for prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), s...

Tumor vasculature is irregular, abnormal, and essential for tumor growth. Pericytes and endothelial precursor cells (EPC) contribute to the formation of blood vessels under angiogenic conditions. As primary cells in culture, pericytes and EPC share many properties such as tube/network formation and response to kinase inhibitors selective for angiogenic pathways. Expression of cell surface prote...

OBJECTIVE(S) The eventual role of blood pressure on the endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) has rarely been evaluated and data collected so far relate to patients with co-existing coronary heart disease. METHODS We have studied the number and functional activity of EPC as well as the number of EPC endothelial colony-forming units (CFU) in a carefully selected group of 36 patients with essential...

OBJECTIVES Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) is characterized by localized continuous jerks, from time to time with spreading Jacksonian seizures and, more rarely, secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures. EPC has numerous possible etiologies. In this paper we describe EPC in the tick-borne Russian spring-summer encephalitis (TBRSSE) and compare it with Rasmussen syndrome. METHODS AND M...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We evaluated the hypothesis that the number of circulating EPC could be associated with the risk of stroke recurrence (SR) or vascular events (VE) after an ischemic stroke. METHODS We studied prospectively consecutive patients with cerebral infarction within the first 48 hours after the onset. We recorded demographic factors, vascular risk factors, previous Rankin scale...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) have been proven to be essential for tumor angiogenesis and growth in animal tumor models. However, the involvement and relevance of EPC in human cancers remain poorly studied. We, therefore, investigated the presence, differentiation potential and molecular characteristics of EPC in lymphoma patients. DESIGN AND METHODS EPC (CD133+...

Angiogenesis occurs during normal physiologic processes as well as under pathologic conditions such as tumor growth. Serial analysis of gene expression profiling revealed genes [tumor endothelial markers (TEM)] that are overexpressed in tumor endothelial cells compared with normal adult endothelial cells. Because blood vessel development of malignant tumors under certain conditions may include ...