The role of angiopoietins in the development of endothelial cells from cord blood CD34+ progenitors.

Circulating endothelial progenitors contribute to neovascularization at sites of injury and tumorigenesis in postnatal life. Yet, the molecular mechanisms initiating the endothelial developmental program of these precursors remain elusive. Here we provide evidence that endothelial development from progenitors circulating in human cord blood requires angiopoietins, a set of growth factors also involved in vascular branching during embryogenesis.