Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(2):110. doi: 10.1186/ar2943. Epub 2010 Mar 18.
Decreased number and impaired functions of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) leading to impaired vasculogenesis have been associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Defective vasculogenesis has also been implicated in premature atherosclerosis in RA. Recently, early-outgrowth monocytic and late-outgrowth hemangioblastic EPC subsets have been characterized. Hemangioblastic EPCs may exert increased numbers in active RA and may play a role in vascular repair underlying RA.
内皮祖细胞（EPCs）数量减少和功能受损导致血管生成受损与类风湿关节炎（RA）有关。血管生成缺陷也与 RA 中的早发性动脉粥样硬化有关。最近，已经对早期生长的单核细胞和晚期生长的血管母细胞 EPC 亚群进行了特征描述。在活动期 RA 中，可能会有更多的血管母细胞 EPC 发挥作用，并且可能在 RA 相关的血管修复中发挥作用。
