Endothelial progenitor cells in age-related vascular remodeling

Abstract

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) could facilitate the reendothelialization of injured arteries by replacing the dysfunctional endothelial cells, thereby suppressing the formation of neointima. Meanwhile, other findings suggest that EPCs may be involved in the pathogenesis of age-related vascular remodeling. This review is presented to summarize the characteristics of EPCs and age-related vascular remodeling. In addition, the role of EPCs in age-related vascular remodeling and possible solutions for improving the therapeutic effects of EPCs in the treatment of age-related diseases are discussed.

Introduction

Aging is characterized by progressive degeneration of tissues and organ systems, aggravation of body functions, and decreasing ability to respond to stress, which increase the risk of age-related diseases¹. Age-related diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, accelerate the process of aging and result in disability and premature death^2,3. Among these diseases, atherosclerosis leads to the development of myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, ischemic heart disease, and stroke, which are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized and some developing countries¹.

Atherosclerosis is considered not only as an age-related disease but also as an age-dependent disease¹. Vascular remodeling, characterized by neointimal hyperplasia, frequently accompanies atherosclerosis⁴. Aggravated vascular remodeling is alleviated by the process of reendothelialization, which occurs by covering the impaired neointimal surface with a functional endothelial monolayer⁵. The endothelial monolayer represents a dynamic structure and functional barrier between the circulating blood and surrounding tissues. It prevents platelet and leukocyte adhesion/aggregation, producing a variety of important vasoregulatory factors such as endothelins and nitric oxide⁶. An imbalance between endothelial cell (EC) damage and repair is the initial step in the development of age-related vascular remodeling⁷. Endothelial repair is accomplished by the migration and proliferation of surrounding mature ECs. However, mature ECs are terminally differentiated with a low proliferative capacity, and their ability to replace the damaged endothelium is altogether limited⁸. Therefore, endothelial repair may need support from other cell types⁸.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are currently considered as important contributors to endogenous vascular repair by participating in endothelial regeneration^9,10. Studies in animal models and humans have demonstrated that EPCs can facilitate the reendothelialization of injured arteries by replacing dysfunctional ECs, thereby suppressing the formation of neointima^11,12. Meanwhile, other experimental findings have indicated that EPCs may be involved in the pathogenesis of age-related vascular remodeling¹².

This review summarizes the characteristics of EPCs and age-related vascular remodeling. In addition, the role of EPCs in age-related vascular remodeling and possible solutions for improving the therapeutic effects of EPCs in the treatment of age-related diseases are discussed.

Characterization of EPCs

EPCs were initially considered as a group of cells mobilized from the bone marrow that participate in the generation and repair of the vascular endothelium¹³. EPCs have recently been regarded as a heterogeneous population of cells in different stages of maturation, with different origins and several residing sites, such as the spleen, vascular endothelium, and adventitia¹⁴. EPCs adhere to matrix molecules such as fibronectin, and are positive for both acetylated low-density lipoprotein (acLDL) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-1) lectin^13,15,16. To date, there is no specific marker for identifying EPCs.

Asahara and colleagues reported that circulating CD34⁺ and fetal liver kinase positive (Flk-1⁺), also known as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) or kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), mononuclear cells (MNCs) may facilitate neo-angiogenesis. These two cell surface markers were the first putative markers proposed for EPC identification¹³. Then, CD34, VEGFR2, and CD133 were used to characterize EPCs, and these biomarkers are the most commonly used surface markers for defining an EPC population^17,18.

EPCs consist of two different subpopulations: early-outgrowth and late-outgrowth EPCs¹⁹. Early-outgrowth EPCs are also termed “circulatory angiogenic cells” (CACs) or “colony forming unit endothelial cells (CFU-EC)”, and are adherent spindle-shaped cells that develop after 4–7 days, die after 4 weeks, and have very low proliferative ability^20–22. Early-outgrowth EPCs express some surface markers characteristic of progenitor cells, including CD133 and CD34, the endothelial markers CD31 and von Willebrand factor (vWF), the pan-leukocyte marker CD45, and the monocyte marker CD14²³. Early-outgrowth EPCs lack impressive replicative ability but are prolific producers of several growth factors and cytokines, including VEGF, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and interleukin (IL)-8²¹. Early-outgrowth EPCs cannot form a vascular network in vitro, but can adhere to mature ECs, and promote network formation and repair injured ECs through a paracrine mechanism²². Late-outgrowth EPCs, also termed “endothelial outgrowth cells” (EOCs) or “endothelial colony forming cells” (ECFCs), display a cobblestone morphology, and start to proliferate and differentiate into mature ECs after 2–3 weeks. These cells express endothelial markers such as KDR, VE-cadherin, and CD146²⁴. Late-outgrowth EPCs can improve angiogenesis directly by incorporating into neovessels and further differentiating into mature ECs^25–27. Early- and late-outgrowth EPCs may originate from different angiogenic cell types²⁷.

Hill et al. developed a colony forming assay based on MNC culture on fibronectin-coated plates, using culture medium that was designed to promote endothelial lineage cell proliferation²⁸. These cells (colony forming unit endothelial cells, CFU-ECs, or CFU-Hill) emerged from the cultured non-adherent human peripheral blood MNCs after 48 h of preplating on fibronectin-coated dishes²⁸. Hill et al. identified colonies composed of multiple thin flat cells emanating from a central cluster of rounded cells²⁸. It was apparent that CFU-ECs contain various blood cells, including hematopoietic progenitor cells, monocytes, and lymphocytes (see Richardson and Yoder²⁹ for a comprehensive review).

Recently, Malinverno et al. identified a subpopulation of vessel-associated ECs with the characteristics of progenitor cells³⁰. These PW1-positive cells are highly proliferative and form colonies when cultured at clonal dilution. PW1-positive cells can proliferate to efficiently form new vessels in vivo³⁰.

Age-related vascular remodeling

Aging refers to the biological and physiological processes that involve organs, tissues, and cells throughout life, gradually causing a decline of normal functions³¹. Aging is one of the main risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which might be due to the structural changes that emerge in the systems and organs, such as complicated alterations in the vasculature, with age^32,33. ECs, located at the interface between blood vessels and tissues, stand poised to respond to the environment and modulate the vascular function to maintain homeostasis and host defenses against microbial invaders and injury³⁴. Inappropriate signaling from vascular ECs that leads to endothelial dysfunction induces common diseases characterized by arterial remodeling, notably atherosclerosis³⁵.

Recently, the concept of endothelial dysfunction has changed from a pure “damage model” to a more dynamic process, where the effects of endothelial repair are outpaced by local injury³⁶. Alteration in the damage/repair balance causes endothelial dysfunction, which is considered the main cause of initiation and development of atherosclerosis²³. In healthy subjects, a low basal level of endothelial turnover has been unveiled^6,37. However, acute injury or chronic immuno-inflammatory endothelial dysfunction contributes to the loss of anti-thrombotic function as well as enhanced arrest and transmigration of circulating leukocytes⁸. This pathological vascular remodeling gradually leads to redundant sub-endothelial accumulation of lipids and immune cells, neointimal hyperplasia, excessive proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs), matrix deposition, and foam cell formation³⁸. Recently, a growing body of studies have highlighted the involvement of myofibroblasts (MFs) in the neointima induced by vascular injury³⁹. MFs are derived from adventitial fibroblasts, the transdifferentiation of SMCs residing in the tunica media, and ECs through an endothelial–mesenchymal transition⁴⁰. The major functions of MFs are production and modification of extracellular matrix (ECM), secretion of pro-inflammatory and angiogenic factors, and generation of tensile force³⁹. MFs contribute not only to the formation of neointima but also to the thickening of tunica media, adventitial fibrosis, and deposition of the ECM, a process that can lead to late lumen stenosis after vascular injury³⁹.

Consequently, occlusive atherosclerotic plaques with lumen stenosis of the arterial wall aggravate and clinically lead to chronic distal tissue ischemia, often complicated by acute myocardial infarction^38,41. Beyond acute complications, sufficient endothelial regeneration appears to be crucial for attenuating arterial stenosis secondary to injury (e.g. balloon angioplasty or stent placement). It is also thought to prevent endothelial dysfunction and initiation of corresponding atheromatous plaque growth by replacing the injured ECs¹².

EPCs and age-related vascular remodeling

EPC status in age-related vascular remodeling

Previous study has shown that the number of circulating EPCs decreases reversibly with aging, especially in patients with coronary artery disease⁴². For example, Scheubel et al. reported an age-related reduction of circulating EPCs in aged patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting⁴³. The number of EPC-CFUs in culture was found to be inversely correlated with cardiovascular risks in adults²⁸. Among patients with low, intermediate, and high numbers of CFU-ECs, those with the highest levels were considered to be the healthiest²⁸. Indeed, decreased ability of EPCs to proliferate in vitro and to express the endothelial phenotype was associated with the risk factors for coronary artery disease and endothelial dysfunction^28,44.

The circulating number of EPCs can serve as a predicting factor for the patient’s outcome⁴⁵. Dysfunctional EPCs may lead to impaired ability to restore endothelial damage⁴⁶. EPC number was found to be a strong and independent negative predictor of atherosclerotic plaque occurrence in the common carotid artery^47,48. Meanwhile, it has also been demonstrated that EPC number is reduced with the presence and progression of preclinical atherosclerosis, and the risk factors constitute a decrease in aortic and femoral sites, but not in carotid circulation⁴⁹. Peripheral arterial disease was associated with lower cell counts of CD34⁺ and CD34⁺/VEGFR2^{+ 50}. A decrease of EPCs to below 0.0038% of total circulating peripheral blood MNCs represents a six-fold higher risk for the development of CVDs⁴⁶. Coronary artery disease patients with the highest EPC number have the highest likelihood of remaining event-free⁴⁴.

Therefore, EPCs serve as promising biomarkers of cardiovascular health⁴⁸. However, some investigators reported no correlation between EPC subsets and vascular remodeling, with no direct association of EPC number change with CVD progression^51,52. Differences in methods used for identifying EPCs may lead to such disparity.

Involvement of EPCs in age-related vascular remodeling

Endothelial damage is an important early step in the initiation and development of atherosclerosis, a hallmark of aging¹. Structural and functional endothelial damage contributing to atherosclerosis is a common event, and endothelial regeneration is critical for maintaining endothelial homeostasis^53,54. In the context of regeneration, animal studies have shown that EPCs efficiently contribute to restoring endothelial function and decrease neointimal formation after arterial injury^55–60. An adequate homing of EPCs plays a central role in this regenerative arterial remodeling⁵⁷. The process of EPC homing, including mobilization, recruitment, and adhesion, is regulated by key angiogenic chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL7, CXCL12, CCL2) and their respective receptors (CXCR2, CXCR4, CCR2)⁵⁷. Hristov et al. showed that CXCR2 is crucial for the homing of circulating EPCs to sites of arterial injury and for endothelial repair⁵⁵. It was also found that rat bone marrow-derived EPC functional activity could be ameliorated by decreasing cellular senescence via AKT/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) pathways and improving homing capacity via increasing CXCR4 expression levels⁶¹. Walter et al. reported that the use of statins increased circulating rat EPCs and promoted adhesion of cultured human EPCs by augmentation of integrin subunits α₅, α_v, β₁, and β₅ of human EPCs⁵⁸. Augmentation of integrin receptor expression may thus promote adhesion and enhance homing of EPCs to foci of ischemia or vascular injury⁵⁸. Meanwhile, EPCs play an important role in the neovascularization of ischemic tissue by promoting the formation of new vessels and releasing angiogenic growth factors^11,12. Currently, the common clinical concept claims a protective role for EPCs even during the initiation and development of atherosclerosis, further suggesting that EPCs may reflect the endogenous vascular repair ability^46,62. Intramyocardial injection by synergistic local co-administration of angiogenic compounds may help to further promote the homing of EPCs and neovascularization after myocardial infarction⁶³. The therapeutic effects are exerted even in the chronic stage, when acute inflammation and oxidative stress are attenuated^63,64. Kaushal et al. coated vascular grafts with endogenous EPCs and found that EPCs can exert functions similar to arterial ECs, thereby conferring longer vascular-graft survival⁶⁵. Thus, the coating of stents with EPC-attracting peptides or antibodies to capture EPCs in terms of promoting endothelialization and diminishing in-stent stenosis remains an exciting alternative for clinical application^66,67.

Although therapeutic effects of EPCs in the treatment of atherosclerotic diseases have been observed in animal models and humans, the crucial involvement of EPCs in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has newly emerged. Interestingly, transplanted EPCs increase the lipid content and decrease collagen amounts in atherosclerotic plaques of Apoe^−/− mice⁶⁸. Furthermore, higher serum concentrations of IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and lower serum concentration of IL-10, were found in mice transfused with EPCs⁶⁸. Increased plasma CXCR2 receptor ligands such as CXCL1 and CXCL7 were clinically related to plaque destabilization, while blocking of CXCR2 was associated with a more stable plaque phenotype in experimental models^69–71. The influx of CXCR2⁺ monocyte subsets containing putative endothelial precursors with inflammatory, proteolytic, and angiogenic properties may partly contribute to these findings^55,71. Vega et al. found that the atherosclerotic plaque secretome promotes EPC proliferation, mobilization, permeability, contraction, and adhesion⁷². Furthermore, the up-regulated expression of proteins that are mostly involved in cell proliferation, migration, and vascular remodeling was observed in the atherosclerotic plaque secretome treated cells⁷². It was also found that increased circulating CD34⁺ cells after coronary stenting may serve as an independent risk factor for predicting in-stent restenosis and indicate the involvement of CD34⁺ subpopulations in neointimal hyperplasia⁷³. Thus, the dual contribution of EPC subpopulations to vascular remodeling in atherosclerosis needs a critical reevaluation⁸.

In the early stage of primary and secondary atherosclerosis after injury, which is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, EPCs (mainly as late-outgrowth EPCs) mobilize to the injured area, penetrate the site of vessel injury, and differentiate into mature ECs. This in turn replaces the dysfunctional endothelium, further avoiding the development of atherosclerosis (Figure 1(a)). Hence, EPCs may provide a circulating pool of cells that could generate a cellular patch at the site of denuding injury or serve as a cellular reservoir to substitute the injured endothelium²⁸. In recent years, accumulating evidence has indicated that activation of tissue-resident ECs through paracrine mechanisms may become more crucial for EPC-based neovascularization than direct differentiation and incorporation into the vasculature^74,75. Early-outgrowth EPCs secrete several cytokines, such as VEGF, HGF, G-CSF, and GM-CSF^20,21. Therefore, EPCs (mainly as early-outgrowth EPCs) could also repair the injured ECs by secreting growth factors (Figure 1(a)). Advanced atherosclerosis is characterized by redundant sub-endothelial accumulation of lipids and immune cells, neointimal hyperplasia, excessive proliferation of SMCs, matrix deposition, and foam cell formation³⁸. It involves widespread mobilization of EPCs associated with that of monocytes in response to inflammatory factors, such as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and may promote plaque instability/vascularization¹² (Figure 1(b)). Again, the contribution of EPCs during vascular remodeling in the early and advanced disease stages, as well as primary and secondary atherosclerosis, requires a more careful and critical reevaluation⁷⁶.

Figure 1.

Involvement of EPCs in age-related vascular remodeling. (a) In the early stage of primary and secondary atherosclerosis after injury, characterized by endothelial dysfunction, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs, mainly as late-outgrowth EPCs) can be mobilized to the injured area, penetrate the site of vessel injury, and differentiate into mature endothelial cells (ECs), replacing the dysfunctional endothelium and avoiding further atherosclerosis development. EPCs (mainly as early-outgrowth EPCs) could also repair injured ECs by secreting growth factors. (b) In advanced atherosclerosis, characterized by redundant sub-endothelial accumulation of lipids and immune cells, neointimal hyperplasia, excessive proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs), matrix deposition, and foam cell formation, a widespread EPC mobilization concomitant with that of monocytes in response to inflammatory factors may, rather, promote plaque instability/vascularization.

In addition, it should be mentioned that aging may also affect the pathways involved in the contribution of EPCs to vascular remodeling. A significant reduction in the expression of CXCR4 was found in the CD34⁺ cell population with aging⁷⁷. It was also found that the surface CXCR4 expression on bone marrow-derived cells was significantly reduced in aged mice compared with young mice^78,79. Xia et al. showed no difference in the surface expression of CXCR4 receptor in EPCs between older and younger men⁸⁰. However, phosphorylation of JAK-2, a downstream signaling of CXCR4, is markedly decreased in EPCs derived from elderly men⁸⁰. It was suggested that bone marrow-derived EPC functional activity could be ameliorated by decreasing cellular senescence and improving homing capacity through increasing CXCR4 expression levels⁶¹. So, aging may impair the protective effects of EPCs in vascular remodeling via affecting CXCR4-JAK-2 pathways.

Obstacles and possible solutions

There is no specific marker for EPCs, and many studies assessing EPCs have included limited analyses regarding the cell phenotypes. The use of an often poorly defined label “progenitor cells” for heterogeneous therapeutic cell subtypes complicates study comparisons, making it quite challenging to reach definitive conclusions concerning their efficacy⁸¹. Defining and standardizing EPC surface markers are extremely important for comparing more EPC studies⁸². In addition, the methods for culturing EPCs should be more standardized and, if possible, this should be done in a uniform manner.

Convincing evidence has emerged that EPCs from the elderly are impaired in terms of number, function, and survival^83–87. Clinical application of cardiovascular cell repair therapy showed some limitations in older patients^88,89. The major obstacles include degradation of functionality of autologous stem or progenitor cells in older individuals, and difficulties in engraftment and survival of transplanted cells in the hostile host microenvironment⁷. EPC-based therapy showed that an increase in the number or function of circulating EPCs may be effective in the treatment of atherosclerotic diseases⁹⁰. However, large-scale use of cell-based therapy was limited due to the poor viability of EPCs after transplantation⁹⁰. Therefore, enhancement strategies to reactivate the proliferation and function of EPCs in aged patients need to be explored urgently⁹¹.

EPC function enhancement was observed after administration of growth factors such as HGF and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1^92,93. Recombinant bone morphogenetic protein 4 also markedly improved the migration and adhesion capacity of human EPCs⁹⁴. In clinical application, the most feasible method to improve EPC number and function is drug treatment. To date, the most practicable strategies applied in the clinic are pharmacological treatments with anti-hypertensive and anti-hyperglycemic effects⁹¹. Previous studies reported that beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin II receptor antagonists significantly increased EPC counts^95–99. In diabetic and non-diabetic patients, pharmacological products, such as anti-diabetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) agonists, have been shown to enhance EPC number and function^100,101. Other drugs, for example rosuvastatin and cilostazol, also exerted positive effects on circulating EPC levels¹⁰². As well as Western medicine, traditional Chinese drugs have recently shown beneficial effects on EPC function. Tanshinone IIA may have the potential to protect EPCs against damage induced by tumor necrosis factor-α¹⁰³. Danhong injection, extracted from Radix Salvia miltiorrhiza and Flos Carthamus tinctorius L, is effective in repairing endothelial lesions by mobilizing EPCs¹⁰⁴.

Although the drug treatment mentioned earlier could increase the number and function of EPCs, adverse effects of the drugs, such as headache, nausea, and asthenia, may also occur, especially in the elderly population. Non-drug therapies may be good choices to enhance EPC function and avoid adverse effects. Interestingly, exercise has direct beneficial effects on EPC number and function in the aged population^80,105–108. Meanwhile, other interesting studies have shown that Mediterranean diets and black tea exert protective effects on EPC level and function^109–112. As concomitant strategies to enhance EPC number and function, lifestyle and diet modifications should be strongly encouraged in aged patients⁹¹.

Recent attempts to improve the number and function of transplanted EPCs with gene modification may facilitate repair of the injured endothelium and accelerate reendothelialization¹¹³. Transplantation of genetically modified EPCs that overexpress PDGFR-β, β2AR, and CXCR7, or with reduced Lnk levels, significantly enhanced the vascular repair ability of EPCs, improving the inhibition of adverse remodeling after vascular injury^113–117. EPC transplantation combined with gene transfer may be a promising EPC therapeutic strategy in the future for age-related vascular remodeling.

Conclusions

Endothelial damage is a critical early step in the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. EPCs may repair and replace the injured ECs, and avoid initiation and development of atherosclerosis, through differentiating into mature ECs and the release of protective paracrine factors. However, widespread EPC mobilization may, rather, cause plaque instability in advanced atherosclerosis. Selectively controlling the mobilization and homing of EPCs helps to increase their therapeutic potential and avoid promoting the development of atherosclerotic diseases. EPCs from the elderly are impaired in terms of number, function, and survival. Thus, improving the effectiveness of EPC treatments to delay the progression of age-related vascular remodeling and diseases remains an urgent necessity. Drug regimens, gene transfer, lifestyle, and diet modifications are effective approaches, and may constitute promising therapeutic strategies for the treatment of age-related vascular remodeling.