Sources and applications of endothelial seed cells: a review

• Published in: Stem cell research & therapy Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 175 - 14
• Main Authors: Deng, Dan, Zhang, Yu, Tang, Bo, Zhang, Zhihui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 18-06-2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Differentiation; Endothelial cells; Endothelial Cells - cytology; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Endothelium; Humans; Properties; Regenerative medicine; Review; Seed cells; Stem cell research; Tissue Engineering - methods; Vascular diseases; Vascularization; China; Seed cells; Vascular diseases; Regenerative medicine; Endothelial cells; Vascularization
• ISSN: 1757-6512; 1757-6512
• DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03773-6

Endothelial cells (ECs) are widely used as donor cells in tissue engineering, organoid vascularization, and in vitro microvascular model development. ECs are invaluable tools for disease modeling and drug screening in fundamental research. When treating ischemic diseases, EC engraftment facilitates the restoration of damaged blood vessels, enhancing therapeutic outcomes. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the current sources of ECs, which encompass stem/progenitor cells, primary ECs, cell lineage conversion, and ECs derived from other cellular sources, provides insights into their characteristics, potential applications, discusses challenges, and explores strategies to mitigate these issues. The primary aim is to serve as a reference for selecting suitable EC sources for preclinical research and promote the translation of basic research into clinical applications.