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Thromb Haemost 2009; 101(03): 521-526
DOI: 10.1160/TH08-10-0644
Cardiovascular Biology and Cell Signalling
Schattauer GmbH

Relationship between exercise capacity, endothelial progenitor cells and cytochemokines in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation

Francesca Cesari
1   Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, Center for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
,
Francesco Sofi
1   Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, Center for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
6   Centro S. Maria agli Ulivi, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus IRCCS, Impruneta, Florence, Italy
,
Roberto Caporale
2   Central Laboratory, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
,
Andrea Capalbo
1   Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, Center for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
,
Rossella Marcucci
1   Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, Center for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
,
Claudio Macchi
3   Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Florence, Italy
,
Raffaele Molino Lova
3   Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Florence, Italy
4   Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation Unit, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Massa, Italy
,
Tommaso Cellai
5   Unit Of Cardiologic Rehabilitation I.F.C.A. “Ulivella e Glicini”, Florence, Italy
,
Mauro Vannucci
5   Unit Of Cardiologic Rehabilitation I.F.C.A. “Ulivella e Glicini”, Florence, Italy
,
Gian Franco Gensini
6   Centro S. Maria agli Ulivi, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus IRCCS, Impruneta, Florence, Italy
,
Rosanna Abbate
1   Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, Center for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
,
Anna Maria Gori
1   Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, Center for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
6   Centro S. Maria agli Ulivi, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus IRCCS, Impruneta, Florence, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 06 October 2008

Accepted after major revision: 03 February 2008

Publication Date:
24 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

No data are available about the possible role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), cytochemokines and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in determining a different response to short period of cardiologic rehabilitation (CR), as measured by the improvement of exercise capacity. In a population of 86 cardiac surgery patients, we evaluated the numbers of EPCs, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6,IL-8, IL-10, IL-1ra), hs-C-reactive protein (CRP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and NT-proBNP before (T1), and after 15 days of CR (T2). EPCs were measured by flow cytometry, and the exercise capacity was measured at T1 and T2 by using the six-minute walk test (6MWT). At T2, a significant increase of 6MWT (p<0.0001) was detected. No significant increase of EPCs was observed, while a significant (at least p<0.05) decrease in cytochemokines, CRP and NT-ProBNP levels was evidenced. By analyzing the median improvement of 6MWT, only patients with a median improvement ≥23% showed a significant (p<0.05) increase of EPCs at T2, with significant correlations between EPCs, VEGF and IL-10. On the contrary, in patients with a median improvement <23% a negative correlation between CRP and EPCs was observed. Finally, CD34+/KDR+ EPCs showed significant correlation with IL-8 at T1. In conclusion, a short period of CR intervention determines a different pattern of modifications for EPCs in relation to the improvement of exercise capacity.

Keywords

Endothelial progenitor cells - cytochemokines - cardiac rehabilitation - exercise capacity
 

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