|
Morphology
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Elongated and spindle shape
|
Cobblestone appearance
|
|
Appearance in culture
|
4–7 days of culture
|
2–4 weeks
|
|
Purity
|
Heterogeneous group of cells that differentiate from hemangioblasts to mature endothelial cells
|
Homogeneous and well differentiated. Derived mainly from “early” EPC
|
|
Life span
|
3–4 weeks
|
Up to 12 weeks
|
|
Proliferation potential
|
Low compared to “late” EPCs
|
Highly proliferating
|
|
Gene expression
|
Week expression of VE-cadherin and KDR. The level of Flt-1 expression elevated
|
Strong expression of VE-cadherin, Flt-1, KDR, and e-NOS, vWF
|
|
eNOS expression
|
Less competent endothelial function producing nitric oxide
|
High competent endothelial function producing nitric oxide
|
