Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2009; 101(06): 1138-1146
DOI: 10.1160/TH08-11-0723

Endothelium and Vascular Development

Schattauer GmbH

Reduced levels of putative endothelial progenitor and CXCR4+ cells in coronary artery disease: Kinetics following percutaneous coronary intervention and association with clinical characteristics

Colin Gerard Egan

¹Molecular Medicine Section, Department of Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

²Center for Stem Cell Research, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

,

Francesca Caporali

¹Molecular Medicine Section, Department of Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

²Center for Stem Cell Research, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

,

Alda F. Huqi

³Department of Cardiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

⁴Cardiac and Thoracic Department, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

,

Maria Cristina Zito

³Department of Cardiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

,

Marta Focardi

³Department of Cardiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

,

Sergio Mondillo

³Department of Cardiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

,

Carlo Pierli

³Department of Cardiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

,

Mario Marzilli

⁴Cardiac and Thoracic Department, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

,

Vincenzo Sorrentino

¹Molecular Medicine Section, Department of Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

²Center for Stem Cell Research, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

› Author Affiliations

Summary

Levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and CXCR4-positive cells are decreased in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD); however, their ability to change in response to acute vascular injury remains to be elucidated. Progenitor and CXCR4-positive cells were analysed by flow cytometry from the peripheral blood of 23 healthy controls and 23 patients with CAD, of which 13 patients underwent angiogram and 10 patients received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation. Baseline levels of progenitor and CXCR4-positive cells were substantially reduced in CAD patients compared to controls, although they were still capable of increasing in response to vascular injury. Levels of progenitor and CXCR4-positive cells were increased to a greater extent in the PCI group compared to angiogram patients. At presentation, levels of putative endothelial progenitor and CXCR4-positive cells were found to be negatively correlated with disease severity. A one-year follow-up revealed that out of the cell populations examined, only levels of CXCR4-positive cells were positively correlated with angina frequency in the PCI group, but not in patients receiving angiogram. Baseline levels of progenitor cells are differentially increased depending upon the severity of vascular injury incurred, regardless of a significant deficit in baseline levels in CAD patients. Levels of putative EPCs and CXCR4-positive cells were negatively correlated with disease severity at presentation, however, only CXCR4-positive cells were associated with patient condition in a one-year follow-up.

Keywords

Keywords

Endothelial progenitor cells - coronary artery disease - percutaneous coronary intervention - balloon angioplasty - CXCR4

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