Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), known as the precursor cells of mature endothelial cells, is a type of stem/progenitor cells in peripheral blood. Recently, the relationship of EPCs to oxidative stress has become a hotspot in research area.
OBJECTIVE: To review the new publications on the relationship between EPCs and oxidative stress.
METHODS: The articles on EPCs and oxidative stress were searched through CNKI and Pubmed database published from January 1997 to May 2010. The key words were “endothelial progenitor cells, oxidative stress” that were searched in titles and abstracts. The articles concerning endothelial progenitor cells and oxidative stress were selected. In the same field, articles published recently or in authoritative journals were selected. A total of 212 articles were selected through the first search, and finally 34 papers were reviewed by the inclusion criterion.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: EPCs were closely associated with oxidative stress. The anti-oxidative stress capability of EPCs was better than that in mature endothelial cells. However, with the chronic oxidative stress, the apoptosis is promoted by the decreased expression of antioxidase and increased expression of oxidase, which impairs the function and decreases the quantities of EPCs. Therefore, oxidative stress is one of factors leading to the changes in the quantity and function of EPCs. The intervention of statins, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/receptor antagonist and peroxisome activator may release the oxidative stress in EPCs and protect the function of EPCs.