MYH11/NDE1 region as epigenetic marker for the identification of endothelial precursor cells (EPCs)

摘要

The present invention concerns a procedure, in particular an in vitro procedure, for the identification of endothelial precursor cells (EPCs),Comprehensive analysis of epigenetic modifications/properties (including methylation status) of at least one CpG position in the mammalian gene range for muscle myosin heavy chain 11 (MYH11) and core distribution protein nude homologue 1 (NDE1),where a demethylation or lack of methylation of this gene region indicates an EPC in comparison to a non-EPC.The inventive analysis can identify EPCs at epigenetic level and from all other cells in complex samples such as other blood cells,non-blood or immune cells, distinguish.The present invention continues to provide an improved method for the quantification of EPCs, particularly in complex samples.The procedure may be carried out without a step of cleansing and/or enrichment of cells, preferably in whole blood and/or non-striated tissues