[Changes of endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood in patients with coronary heart diseases]
Yan-rong Liu1, Jun-zhu Chen, Xing-xiang Wang
1Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Insights
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are significantly reduced in number and function in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). This finding highlights potential therapeutic targets for improving cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Context:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) poses a significant global health burden.
- Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a crucial role in vascular repair and angiogenesis.
- Alterations in EPCs may contribute to the pathophysiology of CHD.
Purpose:
- To investigate the quantitative and functional alterations of EPCs in patients with CHD.
- To compare EPC characteristics between CHD patients and healthy controls.
Summary:
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 20 CHD patients and 20 controls.
- EPCs were cultured and characterized by DiLDL-uptake and lectin-binding.
- EPC number, proliferation, migration, and adhesion were assessed.
Impact:
- EPC number and functional capacity were significantly reduced in CHD patients compared to controls.
- These findings suggest that impaired EPCs may be a contributing factor to CHD development.
- Understanding these alterations could lead to novel diagnostic markers or therapeutic strategies for CHD.
Objective:
To investigate alterations of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from peripheral blood in patients with coronary heart diseases.
Methods:
Twenty patients with coronary heart diseases (CHD) and 20 matched control subjects were included in the study. Total mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were plated on fibronectin-coated culture dishes. After cultured for 7 days, attached cells were cytochemically analyzed. EPCs were characterized as adherent cells double positive for DiLDL-uptake and lectin-binding by laser scanning confocal microscope with direct fluorescent staining. EPCs proliferation and migration were measured by MTT assay and modified Boyden chamber assay, respectively. EPCs adhesion assay was performed by replating on fibronectin-coated dishes, then adherent cells were counted.
Results:
The number of EPCs was significantly reduced in patients with CHD compared with that of age-matched control subjects (31.8+/-7.7 compared with 59.5 +/-10.6 EPCs/x 200 field; P<0.05). In addition, the functional activity of EPCs such as proliferation, migration and adhesive capacity was also impaired in patients with CHD.
Conclusion:
EPCs number and functional activity are significantly decreased in patients with CHD.
