Fig. 1

EPC isolation and identification. A Morphology of EPCs from initial seeding to passage 4 in cell culture. The cells showed different morphology throughout the time course. a Round monocytes with dispersal distribution were observed soon after seeding. b Early EPCs formed colonies at 7 days after seeding. c Expended EPCs formed colonies 21 days after seeding. d Expended EPCs were nearly confluent on day 28. e Passage 3 and (f) passage 4, EPC presented cobblestone phenotype. Scale bar = 50 μm. B Flow cytometric analysis showed the percentage of cultured EPC cells (about 50 days) with surface markers KDR⁺/CD34⁺, KDR⁺/CD31⁺, KDR⁺/CD133⁺ and isotype control (from left to right). C Flow cytometric analysis showed the percentage of culture EPC cells (about 50 days) with surface markers CD45⁺, CD 29⁺ and CD90⁺. D Cell immunofluorescent staining showed KDR⁺/CD34⁺, CD31⁺/vWF⁺ cells (about 50 days). Scale bar = 50 μm