Endothelial progenitor cells and cardiovascular disease.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) are bone-marrow derived stem cells that are postulated to contribute to post-natal vasculogenesis and to repair of damaged endothelium by incorporation into the vessel wall, secretion of paracrine hormones and stimulation of angiogenesis. Since the first description of the putative EPCs in 1997, and the role of these cells in neovascularisation of mouse and rabbit ischaemic limbs was originally described,...