Abstract: objective To explore the effect of chemokine SDF-1 on the proliferation, migration and in vitro of human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Methods The expression of CXCR4 and SDF-1 on EPCs was detected with immunocytochemistry. Proliferation, migration and in vitro tubulogenesis of EPCs were detected by MTT, Millicell chemotaxis and three-diamensional in vitro Matrigel assays, respectively. When activation or inactivation of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis with CXCR4 ligand SDF-1 or CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100. Results SDF-1 and CXCR4 were expressed on EPCs. SDF-1 induced proliferation, migration and tubulogenesis of EPCs. However, AMD3100 abolished the effects induced by SDF-1. Conclusion The SDF-1/CXCR4 axis possibly plays a critical role in regulating vasculogenesis of EPCs

Key words: EPCs, CXCR4, neovascularization