Endothelial damage ultimately represents a balance between the magnitude of injury and the capacity for repair.Cardiovascular risk factors induce endothelial injury and that impaired endothelial function reflects this ongoing injury.
Endothelial progenitor cells(EPC) can be isolated from circulating mononuclear cells, bone marrow, and cord blood, and might contribute to ongoing endothelial repair. They may provide a circulating pool of cells that could form a cellular patch at the site of denuding injury or serve as a cellular reservoir to replace dysfunctional endothelium.
EPC also contributes to angiogenesis-mediated tumor growth.
