Abstract
Background aims
The aim of this study was to compare prospectively the vasculogenic capacity of two cell sources, monocytes and CD133+ cells.
Methods
Cells were obtained from healthy donors by adherence or magnetic selection. Animals studies were performed in a model of hind limb ischemia and different groups were established according to type and number of cells infused. Revascularization was measured by sequential blood flow analysis using a laser Doppler device and by assessing capillary density in the ischemic muscles. In order to locate the infused cells, immunofluorescence and immunocytochemistry techniques were performed and analyzed by light and confocal microscopy.
Results
During the study period there was a significant improvement in both limb perfusion and capillary density in mice treated with either human monocytes or CD133+ cells (P<0.05) compared with non-treated mice. No cells were detected as incorporated into the vessels when 1 × 105 cells were used but with higher doses (1 × 106) a few human cells were observed integrated into the vessels in both groups of treated mice. Supernatants of both cell types showed vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor- AB (PDGF-AB) expression.
Conclusions
Treatment with human monocytes or CD133+ cells improves blood perfusion and capillary density in a murine model and both cell types seem to stimulate vasculogenesis in a fairly similar way.
Acknowledgments
We thank José Pérez-Fontan, Guti Pérez and Miriam Santos for their excellent technical assistance with muscle preparations and immunohistochemistry techniques. This work was partially supported by grant FIS 040936 from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain), and grant 71/A/06 from the Gerencia Regional de Salud de Castilla y León, Spain.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.