Outgrowth endothelial cells: sources, characteristics and potential applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood or cord blood are attracting increasing interest as a potential cell source for cellular therapies aiming to enhance the neovascularization of tissue engineered constructs or ischemic tissues. The present review focus on a specific population contained in endothelial progenitor cell cultures designated as outgrowth endothelial cells (OEC) or endothelial colony forming cells from peripheral blood or cord blood. Special attention will be paid to what is currently known in terms of the origin and the cell biological or functional characteristics of OEC. Furthermore, we will discuss current concepts, how OEC might be integrated in complex tissue engineered constructs based on biomaterial or co-cultures, with special emphasis on their potential application in bone tissue engineering and related vascularization strategies.