Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Predicting Amputation using Local Circulating Mononuclear Progenitor Cells in Angioplasty-treated Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia
Published on: September 22, 2020
Circulating CD34-positive cells provide a marker of vascular risk associated with cognitive impairment
Akihiko Taguchi1, Tomohiro Matsuyama, Takayuki Nakagomi
1Department of Cerebrovascular Disease, National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. taguchi@ri.ncvc.go.jp
Insights
Circulating CD34-positive (CD34(+)) cells are lower in vascular cognitive impairment, correlating with severity. Alzheimer's patients without ischemia showed no change, suggesting CD34(+) cells may indicate vascular risk in cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Cerebral circulation is vital for brain health.
- Circulating CD34-positive (CD34(+)) cells are potential biomarkers for cerebrovascular health.
- The link between CD34(+) cells and cognitive function requires elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between circulating CD34(+) cell levels and cognitive impairment.
- To differentiate CD34(+) cell levels in vascular versus Alzheimer's-type cognitive impairment.
- To assess CD34(+) cells as a potential marker for vascular risk in cognitive decline.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of circulating CD34(+) cells in individuals with cognitive impairment.
- Correlation analysis between CD34(+) cell counts and clinical diagnoses (vascular vs. Alzheimer's type).
- Comparison of CD34(+) cell levels between patient groups and healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Significantly decreased circulating CD34(+) cells in vascular cognitive impairment compared to controls.
- No significant change in CD34(+) cells in Alzheimer's-type cognitive impairment without cerebral ischemia.
- Inverse correlation between cognitive impairment severity and CD34(+) cell counts in vascular-type impairment.
Conclusions:
- Circulating CD34(+) cells may serve as a biomarker for vascular risk in cognitive impairment.
- Distinct pathobiological mechanisms in vascular and Alzheimer's-type cognitive impairment are reflected in CD34(+) cell levels.
- CD34(+) cell levels offer insights into the cerebrovascular component of cognitive decline.
Abstract:
Maintenance of uninterrupted cerebral circulation is critical for neural homeostasis. The level of circulating CD34-positive (CD34(+)) cells has been suggested as an index of cerebrovascular health, although its relationship with cognitive function has not yet been defined. In a group of individuals with cognitive impairment, the level of circulating CD34(+) cells was quantified and correlated with clinical diagnoses. Compared with normal subjects, a significant decrease in circulating CD34(+) cells was observed in patients with vascular-type cognitive impairment, although no significant change was observed in patients with Alzheimer's-type cognitive impairment who had no evidence of cerebral ischemia. The level of cognitive impairment was inversely correlated with numbers of circulating CD34(+) cells in patients with vascular-type cognitive impairment, but not Alzheimer's type. We propose that the level of circulating CD34(+) cells provides a marker of vascular risk associated with cognitive impairment, and that differences in the pathobiology of Alzheimer's- and vascular-type cognitive impairment may be mirrored in levels of circulating CD34(+) cells in these patient populations.
