Summary: | Background: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are increasingly becoming a major focus of regenerative medicine
research and practice. The present study was undertaken to establish an appropriate procedure for isolation and
characterization of EPCs from Rhesus monkeys for regenerative medicine research.
Result: Selective CD34+ and nonselective mononuclear EPCs were isolated from bone marrow and cultured under
varying conditions. The results showed that nonselective mononuclear EPCs were a better choice for high yield of
the target cells. The cells grew in M 200 better than in EGM-2, and supplementation with fetal bovine serum
promoted cell proliferation; but serum level at 7.5% was better than at 10%. In addition, surface coating of the
culture dishes with human fibronectin significantly improved the proliferation and ontogeny of the isolated EPCs.
Immunocytochemistry including detection of markers CD34, CD133 and CD31 and double-staining for Ac-LDL and
lectin verified the purity of the cultured mononuclear EPCs.
Conclusion: By a thorough analysis, we established a practical procedure for isolation and propagation of EPCs
from Rhesus monkeys. This procedure would help using these valuable cells for regenerative medicine research.
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