Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in traumatic brain injury: an emerging therapeutic target?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the world. Recent clinical investigations and basic researches suggest that strategies to improve angiogenesis following TBI may provide promising opportunities to improve clinical outcomes and brain functional recovery. More and more evidences show that circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which have been identified in the peripheral blood, may play an important role in the pathologic and physiological angiogenesis in adults. Moreover, impressive data demonstrate that EPCs are mobilized from bone marrow to blood circulation in response to traumatic or inflammatory stimulations. In this review, we discussed the role of EPCs in the repair of brain injury and the possible therapeutic implication for functional recovery of TBI in the future.