Endothelial progenitor cells were isolated from mononuclear cells of umbilical cord blood. When cultured in matrigel, cells formed tubular structures.
Blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated by Histopaque-1077 density-gradient centrifugation. MNCs were then cultured, on fibronectin-coated plates, in endothelial growth medium-2, supplemented with hydrocortisone, IGF-1, human EGF, human VEGF, human FGF-B, ascorbic acid, GA-1000, heparin and 2% fetal bovine serum. Cells formed endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) colonies after 2-4 weeks of culturing.