Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPCs) in selected diseases

Abstract

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are exfoliated endothelial cells which have penetrated into peripheral blood. CECs can be isolated from peripheral blood and counted. The elevated level of these cells, which occurs in a variety of diseases and leads to blood vessels damage, is a new and promosing diagnostic and prognostic marker. The number of identified diseases that raise endothelial cell levels in peripheral blood has been constantly increasing. Circulating endothelial precursor cells (CEPCs) come from the bone marrow, differ from CECs in terms of phenotypic features, and participate in postnatal neovascularization and reconstruction of the damaged endothelium. CEPCs are released from the bone marrow in response to tissue ischemia and act as a substrate for neoangiogenesis there. The aim of this study is to present the issue of CECs and CEPCs, their immunological characteristics and methods of determination, as well as selected diseases and clinical conditions in which the level of these cells is connected with their manifestation and/or exacerbation.