Fig. 2

Flow diverter and EPCs synergistically promote endothelialization. After stent implantation, inflammation of the vascular wall is triggered firstly, attracting inflammatory cells and a series of inflammatory factors are released including VEGF, FGF, SDF-1α, NO, CXCR-8, and Angiopoietin-1 these cytokines promote the proliferation and migration of EPCs toward the site of vascular damage. After the mobilization, the surface markers PSGL-1 and CD34 are combined with P-selectin and E-selectin accordingly. Then the EPC differentiate into endothelial cells along the scaffold, and a new endothelial layer is formed eventually. The damaged endothelial cells also release some cytokines like VEGF, SDF-1α, GM-CSF, which can activate MMP-9, then trigger the combination of SKITL and c-Kit that enhance the proliferation and mobilization of EPCs