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Isolation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Blood
Published on: September 14, 2017
Endothelial progenitor cells are reduced in refractory hypertension
A Oliveras1, M J Soler, O M Martínez-Estrada
1Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitari del Mar, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. aoliveras@imas.imim.es
Journal of Human Hypertension
|November 10, 2007
Summary
Patients with refractory hypertension have significantly fewer circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), impacting vascular repair. This reduction in EPCs is independently linked to refractory hypertension and may predict cardiovascular events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Vascular Biology
- Cellular Medicine
Background:
- Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are crucial for maintaining blood vessel health and repair.
- Reduced EPC function is linked to cardiovascular risk factors, but its association with hypertension is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the number and function of circulating EPCs in patients with refractory hypertension (RHT).
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to isolate and quantify circulating EPCs (CD34+ CD133+/CD45+) from 39 RHT patients and 30 controls.
- EPCs were also cultured in vitro for 7 days to assess their number and proliferative capacity.
Main Results:
- Circulating EPC concentration was significantly lower in RHT patients compared to controls (33.8 vs 69.1 EPCs/10^5 MNCs, P=0.014).
- In vitro cultured EPCs were also markedly reduced in RHT patients (142.3 vs 611.0 EPCs/field, P<0.001).
- Refractory hypertension independently predicted a 56.3% reduction in circulating EPCs and a 76.7% reduction in cultured EPCs.
Conclusions:
- Patients with refractory hypertension exhibit a significant reduction in both circulating and cultured EPC numbers.
- This diminished EPC count may contribute to endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and increased cardiovascular events in RHT patients.
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