Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Vascular Dysfunction
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 1285
Editor
Interests: cardiometabolic disorders; developmental programming; endothelial progenitor cells; oxidative stress; cellualr senescence; cellular therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, affecting populations in both developed and developing countries. Many forms of CVD, including atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, and chronic heart failure, are closely associated with endothelial dysfunction, which reduces arterial elasticity and contributes to disease progression.
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are circulating components derived from the bone marrow that play a critical role in maintaining vascular integrity. Once mobilized, EPCs differentiate into mature endothelial cells and secrete various bioactive molecules and growth factors that support vasculogenesis and vascular homeostasis. EPCs can be classified based on their phenotype and in vivo function. Early EPCs, which are of hematopoietic origin, facilitate angiogenesis primarily through paracrine signaling but lack the ability to form mature endothelial cells. In contrast, late EPCs, also known as endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs), possess clonal potential and can proliferate, self-renew, migrate, differentiate, and promote vascular growth and neovascularization both in vitro and in vivo.
Reduced number and impaired function of EPCs are commonly observed in patients with CVD and may serve as predictive biomarkers for cardiovascular events. Dysfunctional EPCs have also been identified in individuals with low birth weight due to preterm birth or intrauterine growth restriction. Factors such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular senescence negatively affect EPC function, whereas interventions such as statin therapy, antioxidant treatment, polyphenol intake, and physical exercise can enhance their activity. Given their regenerative potential, EPCs have recently been investigated for use in cell-based therapies for restoring endothelial integrity and promoting neovascularization in ischemic tissues across both animal models and clinical studies.
Dr. Catherine Yzydorczyk
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- cardiovascular diseases
- endothelial progenitor cells
- vasculogenesis
- angiogenesis
- inflammation
- oxidative stress
- cellular senescence
- developmental programming
- cellular therapy
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