Figure 4From: Endothelial progenitor cells in ischemic stroke: an exploration from hypothesis to therapyMechanisms of EPCs repairing damaged ECs. 1. EPCs differentiate into mature ECs that repopulate injured sites; 2. Direct incorporation of EPCs; 3. EPCs can secrete protective cytokines that can promote self-repair of injured ECs (3.1) or mediate neighboring-injury ECs with normal structure and function to extend into injured sites and then perform the function of repair (3.2).Back to article page