NIH-supported investigators at Duke University discovered that endothelial progenitor cells (cells that line the blood vessels) from young donor mice were able to prevent fatty buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis) of recipient mice that were fed a high fat diet. The researchers also found that older mice make less desirable donors because they have fewer endothelial progenitor cells capable of blood vessel repair. They hypothesize that a gradual reduction in this cell type may explain age-related increases in atherosclerosis. Scientists may be able to use this work in mice to develop ways to restore endothelial progenitor cells to treat and/or prevent atherosclerosis in humans.
(Rauscher et al., Circulation 108:r9&endash;r15, 2003)
