Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Klara Komici, Angelica Perna, Germano Guerra
Summary: Frailty is a clinical condition characterized by a decline in biological reserves, physiological mechanism failure, and vulnerability to stressors. This review focuses on the role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in frailty, highlighting their impaired function, number, and survival in the elderly. It also discusses the modification of EPCs in age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The review concludes by exploring interventions that may restore EPCs expression and function in frail individuals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Tays Amanda Felisberto Goncalves, Viviane Silva Lima, Arthur Jose Pontes Oliveira de Almeida, Alinne Villar de Arruda, Ana Caroline Meneses Ferreira Veras, Thais Trajano Lima, Evyllen Myllena Cardoso Soares, Adhonias Correia dos Santos, Maria Eduarda Costa de Vasconcelos, Mathania Silva de Almeida Feitosa, Robson Cavalcante Veras, Isac Almeida de Medeiros
Summary: This study demonstrated the regulatory effects of carvacrol on endothelial repair in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Results showed that carvacrol promoted the migration and proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells, increased eNOS expression and activity, reduced reactive oxygen species production and cellular senescence, and improved vascular function.
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Ruiying Liu, Ying Zheng, Tao Han, Jie Lan, Laixi He, Jianyou Shi
Summary: This study indicates that PF, an active compound from Traditional Chinese Medicine, has angiogenic effects by promoting proliferation, migration, and tube formation in BM-EPCs, and reducing cerebral infarction while increasing pro-angiogenic factors and vascular density in an ischemic stroke rat model. Up-regulation of VEGF/VEGF-R-2 may be the underlying mechanism of PF's angiogenic action.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jie Fang, Zhi Wang, Chao-yu Miao
Summary: Stroke is the second leading cause of death globally due to its high disability and mortality rates. Currently, there are limited clinical treatment strategies available for stroke, with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) being the only FDA-approved drug. Angiogenesis, which promotes neural regeneration and functional recovery, is an important protective mechanism during stroke. Thus, inducing angiogenesis in the affected area can improve hemodynamics and facilitate vascular remodeling and recovery of neurovascular function. This review summarizes the cellular and molecular mechanisms affecting angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia, and provides pro-angiogenic strategies for exploring the treatment of ischemic stroke, including endothelial progenitor cells, mesenchymal stem cells, growth factors, cytokines, non-coding RNAs, etc.
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Antia Custodia, Alberto Ouro, Joao Sargento-Freitas, Marta Aramburu-Nunez, Juan Manuel Pias-Peleteiro, Pablo Hervella, Anna Rosell, Lino Ferreira, Jose Castillo, Daniel Romaus-Sanjurjo, Tomas Sobrino
Summary: Ischemic stroke is a common cause of death and disability in developed countries. Current therapeutic options are limited, so there is a need for novel treatments. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to repair damaged vessels and generate new ones. EPCs appear to be a promising target for stroke treatment, promoting re-endothelialization, angiogenesis, and vasculogenesis.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Ji Li, Yan Ma, Xiao-Hui Miao, Ji-Dong Guo, Da-Wei Li
Summary: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are immature cells capable of proliferating and differentiating into mature endothelial cells (ECs) to repair injured endothelium and form new blood vessels. The regenerative capacity of EPCs is tightly regulated by endogenous and exogenous factors as well as vascular risk factors. Understanding these regulatory mechanisms is crucial for effectively using EPCs in treating vascular diseases like ischemic stroke.
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Ze-Hui Shi, Xiao-Yan Han, Mu-Di Yao, Chang Liu, Qin Jiang, Biao Yan
Summary: This study identified 72 miRNAs that were differentially expressed in EPCs following high glucose stress, with target genes involved in protein binding, cell differentiation, and cytoskeleton based on GO analysis. KEGG pathway analysis revealed the association between cGMP-PKG signaling pathway and miRNA-mediated EPC function. The up-regulation of miR-375-3p in clinical samples of DR patients was verified, and its inhibition protected EPCs against hyperglycemic or hypoxic stress-induced injury, enhancing cell viability, proliferation, migration, tube formation ability, and delaying apoptosis.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Reed Berlet, Stefan Anthony, Beverly Brooks, Zhen-Jie Wang, Nadia Sadanandan, Alex Shear, Blaise Cozene, Bella Gonzales-Portillo, Blake Parsons, Felipe Esparza Salazar, Alma R. Lezama Toledo, German Rivera Monroy, Joaquin Vega Gonzales-Portillo, Cesario Borlongan
Summary: Combining stem cell transplantation with rehabilitation therapy presents a promising approach in treating stroke, with potential for better functional outcomes for patients. This comprehensive review assesses the advantages and disadvantages of using this combined therapy to mitigate the devastating effects of stroke.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Lu Lu, Jiajie Zhu, Haiyan Zhang, Xiaoping Li, Keda Chen
Summary: EPCs, as newly discovered stem cells, play a crucial role in promoting angiogenesis in ischemic tissue, repairing damaged vascular endothelium, and maintaining vascular homeostasis.
CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Daixuan Zhou, Zhi Huang, Xiaoxi Zhu, Tao Hong, Yuanli Zhao
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the effects of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor BB-94 on diabetic ischemic stroke. In vitro experiments showed that BB-94 promoted cell proliferation and prevented apoptosis, while the combination of EPCs and BB-94 further accelerated proliferation and mitigated oxidative damage. In vivo experiments demonstrated that EPCs and BB-94 alleviated cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in a mouse model.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Rais Reskiawan A. Kadir, Mansour Alwjwaj, Ulvi Bayraktutan
Summary: This experimental study shows that OEC-based cell therapy restores BBB integrity in an effective manner by integrating into the resident cerebral microvascular network, suppressing oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis.
Article
Neurosciences
Qunwen Pan, Yan Wang, Jinhua Liu, Xiaojuan Jin, Zhi Xiang, Suqing Li, Yumeng Shi, Yanfang Chen, Wangtao Zhong, Xiaotang Ma
Summary: Aging is a key factor in vascular dysfunction and the development of ischemic stroke. ACE2-enriched exosomes derived from endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to protect aging endothelial cells (ECs) from hypoxia-induced injury. This study aimed to investigate the potential of ACE2-enriched EPC exosomes (ACE2-EPC-EXs) in reducing brain ischemic injury by inhibiting cerebral EC damage through miR-17-5p and associated molecular mechanisms. The results demonstrated that ACE2-EPC-EXs were more effective in improving cerebral microvascular density, blood flow, and reducing brain cell senescence, infarct volume, and neurological deficit in aged mice compared to EPC-EXs. In aging ECs, ACE2-EPC-EXs also showed greater efficacy in reducing senescence, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, and promoting cell viability and tube formation compared to EPC-EXs. This research suggests that ACE2-EPC-EXs have promising protective effects against neurovascular injury in aging ischemic stroke by activating the miR-17-5p/PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bing Dong, Yumin Qiu, Zhefu Liu, Jinsheng Huang, Zhichao Wang, Qiang Tu, Zhe Zhou, Jiang He, Yong Wang, Xiaolin Liu, Jianning Zhang, Xintao Shuai, Jun Tao, Wenhao Xia
Summary: By studying EPC-EXO from patients with coronary heart disease and healthy volunteers, it was found that C-EPC-EXO was less effective than H-EPC-EXO in improving angiogenesis. Manipulating the bioactivities of C-EPC-EXO through miR-199a-3p inhibition and cRGD decoration can significantly promote ECs-mediated angiogenesis for treating ischemic vascular diseases.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Klara Komici, Angelica Perna, Aldo Rocca, Leonardo Bencivenga, Giuseppe Rengo, Germano Guerra
Summary: Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that can lead to endothelial damage and dysfunction. Endothelial Progenitor Cells play a crucial role in vascular homeostasis and repair, but there are conflicting results regarding their number and function in RA.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Retraction
Cell Biology
Xing-Li Liu, Gang Wang, Wei Song, Wei-Xin Yang, Jian Hua, Liang Lyu
Summary: The article was retracted due to the publication of duplicated image elements in a different scientific context, rendering the conclusions invalid.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pawel Krolik, Ewa Rudnicka-Drozak, Lech Panasiuk, Paulina Drozak
Summary: This study investigated the vitamin D levels of elderly patients in a hospital in southeastern Poland and analyzed the impact of age, referral mode, and frailty syndrome on vitamin D levels. The results showed that vitamin D deficiency is common among the elderly, especially in older patients, those with frailty syndrome, and those urgently referred. Furthermore, only a small percentage of patients had received vitamin D supplementation before hospitalization.
ANNALS OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Paulina Drozak, Lukasz Brylinski, Joanna Zawitkowska
Summary: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer among pediatric patients. Advances in treatment methods and understanding of its pathogenesis have greatly improved the survival rates of childhood ALL. The latest research in epigenetics shows promising potential for the treatment and diagnostics of this disease.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Urszula Skrobas, Piotr Duda, Lukasz Brylinski, Paulina Drozak, Magdalena Pelczar, Konrad Rejdak
Summary: Epilepsy is a global medical problem with a significant number of patients. Ketogenic dietary therapies have shown efficacy and safety in reducing seizures, especially in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS).