Objective     To investigate the effect of stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) on the proliferation and migration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and whether such an effect could be blocked with AMD3100.      Methods     EPCs in 96-well plates were co-cultured with SDF-1α (1

5

10 ng/ml)

or AMD3100 or 5 ng/ml SDF-1α +AMD3100 (10

50

100 ng/ml) for 24 h. EPCs proliferation was assayed with MTT. EPCs was incubated with or without 10 ng/ml AMD3100 for 1 h

then induced by SDF-1α or without to start migration at 37 ℃ for 6 h. EPCs migration was evaluated by using a modified Boyden chamber assay.      Results     SDF-1α increased EPCs proliferation activity in a dose-dependent manner

but its effect induced by 5 ng/ml SDF-1α was inhibited completely with 10 ng/ml AMD3100. The proliferation of EPCs treated with AMD3100 alone was inhibited. SDF-1α increased EPCs migration

but this effect was completely blocked by AMD3100. The migration of EPCs was reduced by AMD3100 alone.      Conclusion     SDF-1α can improve EPCs proliferation and migration

and its effect could be blocked with AMD3100. The treatment of AMD3100 alone decreases the proliferation and migration of EPCs.