Statins Enhance Migratory Capacity by Upregulation of the Telomere Repeat-Binding Factor TRF2 in Endothelial Progenitor Cells

Abstract
Background— Cultivation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) leads to premature replicative senescence, limiting ex vivo expansion for potential clinical cell therapy. Recent studies have linked senescence to the dysfunction of telomeres, the “ends” of chromosomes, via the so-called mitotic clock or culture-induced stress. The purpose of this study was to elucidate a possible role of telomere biology in the functional augmentation of EPCs by statins.