Induction of therapeutic neoangiogenesis using in vitro-generated endothelial colony-forming cells: an autologous transplantation model in rat.

Background: Accumulating evidence shows the potential of bone marrow-derived endothelial colony-forming cells (bmECFCs) as promising tools for vascular repair. However, knowledge about their in vitro expansion, characterization, and functional behavior is still controversial. We demonstrate the in vitro generation of rat bmECFCs and analyze their ability to promote tissue reperfusion in a chronic hind-limb ischemia model.