Journal of Cell Science & Therapy
Open Access
ISSN: 2157-7013
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2157-7013
+44 1300 500008
Savneet Kaur
Accepted Abstracts: J Cell Sci Ther
Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been identifi ed for their contribution to revascularization of ischemic tissues. However, despite their promising applications for tissue regeneration, their limited endogenous pool and possible functional impairment associated with a variety of physiological and pathological phenotypes, largely impede their use for autologous transplantation. In the present study, we explored the eff ect of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene transfer on the angiogenic potential of ex vivo expanded endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in a rabbit model of hindlimb ischemia. Rabbit peripheral blood EPCs were cultured and transfected with mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1- eNOS containing full-length human eNOS gene. Ischemia was induced in the right hind limb of three groups of rabbits by ligation of the distal external iliac artery and excision of the common and superfi cial femoral arteries. In one group of animals, ten days aft er the surgery, autologous eNOS-EPCs were transplanted intramuscularly in the ischemic limb. Two other groups received an equivalent number of unmodifi ed EPCs or phosphate buff ered saline (PBS) respectively. Two weeks aft er cell transplantation, the in vivo expression of eNOS was detected in limb tissue sections of eNOS-EPCs treated animals. Animals treated with eNOS-EPCs had a signifi cant augmentation in the capillary density and angiographic scores demonstrating distal arterial reconstitution and enhanced angiogenesis in comparison to animals transplanted with EPCs or PBS. Th e study shows that the modifi cation of EPCs by eNOS constitutes an eff ective cell and gene therapy to improve the results of vascular regeneration in ischemic diseases.
Dr Savneet has completed her Ph.D at the age of 27 years from Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in the fi eld of innate immunity and postdoctoral studies from Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical-Sciences and Technology in the area of endothelial progenitor cells and cardiovascular diseases. Presently, she is teaching as an Assistant Professor in the School of Biotechnology in Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida. She has published about 15 papers in reputed journals and also contributed a chapter in a book published by Indian Academy of Sciences. She is a recipient of several national and international travel awards