Department of Cardiology, the 8th Renmin Hospital, Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2013 Jun 1;18(4):1194-201. doi: 10.2741/4172.
Atherosclerosis is due to inflammation and endothelial dysfunction and damage caused by a variety of factors. Dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) that differentiate into mature endothelial cell contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. Both the number and functionality of EPCs are regulated, particularly in vascular repair. Further elucidation of the role of EPCs in atherosclerosis could potentially enable the development of novel strategies for prevention and treatment of pathological changes in atherosclerosis.
动脉粥样硬化是由多种因素引起的炎症和内皮功能障碍及损伤导致的。分化为成熟内皮细胞的内皮祖细胞（EPCs）的功能障碍导致了动脉粥样硬化的发展。EPCs 的数量和功能受到调节，特别是在血管修复中。进一步阐明 EPCs 在动脉粥样硬化中的作用可能为开发预防和治疗动脉粥样硬化病理变化的新策略提供可能。
