expansion of cord blood-derived endothelial cells using a novel xeno-free culture media.

Aim: Endothelial cells (ECs), isolated from peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow (BM) and cord blood (CB), are limited in numbers and expansion has had limited success. We used a novel serum-free medium (EndoGo) to evaluate effects on expansion of CB-derived ECs.

Materials & Methods: Flow cytometry and matrigel were used to determine expansion of ECs and for determination of the EC progenitor cell.

Results: EndoGo™-containing cultures demonstrated superior expansion and stimulated proliferation of two distinct subpopulations, CD34CD31 and CD34CD31, which exhibited different morphology, phenotype and function. EndoGo also expanded the CB endothelial progenitor cells from freshly isolated CB.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the potential of EndoGo to expand CB ECs, which could generate increased numbers of ECs for therapeutic applications.