Ex Vivo Priming Of Late Outgrowth Endothelial Progenitor Cells With Erythropoietin Before Transplantation Enhances Their Angiogenic Potential And Requires The Cd131 Receptor Subunit

Summary. Background: Endothelial colony‐forming cells (ECFCs) are promising candidates for cell therapy of ischemic diseases. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a cytokine that promotes angiogenesis after ischemic injury. EPO receptors (EPORs) classically include two EPOR subunits, but may also associate with the β‐common chain (CD131) in a newly identified receptor involved in EPO cytoprotective effects.