Bone Marrow–Derived Progenitor Cells Modulate Vascular Reendothelialization and Neointimal Formation

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Abstract
Objective— Atherosclerosis and restenosis after vascular injury are both characterized by endothelial dysfunction, apoptosis, inappropriate endothelialization, and neointimal formation. Bone marrow–derived endothelial progenitor cells have been implicated in neovascularization, resulting in adult blood vessel formation. Despite the anticipated stem cell plasticity, the role of bone marrow–derived endothelial progenitor cells has not been clarified in vascular lesion development. Methods and Results— We investigated vascular lesion formation in mice after transplantation of bone marrow transfected by means of retrovirus with enhanced green fluorescent protein. Carotid artery injury was induced, resulting in neointimal formation. Fluorescence microscopy and immunohistological analysis revealed that bone marrow–derived progenitor cells are involved in reendothelialization of the vascular lesions. Treatment with rosuvastatin (20 mg/kg body wt per day), a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibit...