Abstract: 【Abstract】 Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a group of cells with highly proliferative potentials, containing heterogeneous cell populations from different origins and with various phenotypes, and possessing the capability to differentiate into endothelial cells. In 1997, Asahara et al. first demonstrated the existence of endothelial progenitor cells in circulation. This finding has acquired considerable concerns due to the potentials of EPCs for management of injured endothelia and other clinical situations. This review summarizes the biological properties of EPCs and the advances in the roles of EPCs in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, in an attempt to provide new theories useful for preventing cardiovascular disease in CKD patients.

Key words: Endothelial progenitor cell, Chronic kidney disease (CKD), Cardiovascular disease