Objective: To investigate the effects of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) transfusion on reendothelialization and neointima proliferation in balloon-denuded rabbit carotid arteries.
Method: Bone marrow-derived rabbit mononuclear cells (MNCs) were cultured in endothelial basal medium to form EPCs. The cell makers were assayed by immunocytochemistry. The rabbit right carotid artery was injured with 2.5 FPTCA balloon catheter and the EPCs (5 ml) were transfused into the injured carotid artery at a rate of 15 ml/h. The rabbits were killed at 7 days or 14 days post operation. Reendothelialization area and ratio of intima/media (I/M) in injured artery were measured.
Result: EPCs transfusion significantly increased the percentage of endothelialization at 7 days (50.923% +/- 2.476% vs. 28.647% +/- 2.241%) and at 14 days (82.609% +/- 2.611% vs. 49.800% +/- 2.660%) compared to control group (all P < 0.05). I/M ratio was significantly lower in EPCs transfusion group than that in control group (0.378 +/- 0.029 vs. 0.898 +/- 0.038, P < 0.05) 14 days after operation. The labeled EPCs could be detected by immunohistochemistry in the injured vessel wall.
Conclusion: Intra-arterial transfusion of EPCs can effectively accelerate reendothelialization and reduce neointima formation in balloon-denuded rabbit carotid arteries.