Endothelial progenitor cells in patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction
Francesco Pelliccia1, Vincenzo Pasceri, Cinzia Cianfrocca
1Department of Cardiology, San Filippo Neri Hospital, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. f.pelliccia@mclink.it
Insights
In coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, specific endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) subpopulations show altered numbers. CD34 and CD133 positive EPCs increase with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, while CD14 positive cells decrease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are crucial for maintaining blood vessel health and forming new vessels.
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) impacts cardiovascular function, including the heart's pumping ability (left ventricular function).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in EPC subpopulations between CAD patients with normal and impaired left ventricular (LV) function.
- To determine if specific EPC markers correlate with the severity of LV dysfunction in CAD.
Main Methods:
- Studied 68 CAD patients using quantitative coronary angiography and flow cytometry.
- Compared EPC subpopulations in patients with LV ejection fraction <45% versus those with normal function.
Main Results:
- Patients with LV dysfunction had significantly higher numbers of CD34 and CD133 positive cells.
- Conversely, CD14 positive cells were significantly lower in patients with LV dysfunction.
- No significant difference in CD105 positive cells was observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- EPC subpopulations exhibit distinct changes in CAD patients with LV dysfunction.
- Increased CD34/CD133+ EPCs and reduced CD14+ EPCs suggest a complex role in CAD with impaired cardiac function.
Objectives:
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a key role in maintenance of endothelial integrity and postnatal neovascularization. We verified whether the number of subpopulations of EPCs is different in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and normal or impaired left ventricular (LV) function.
Methods:
Sixty-eight consecutive patients (37 men, age 60+/-18 years) with CAD were studied. All patients underwent quantitative coronary angiography and flow cytometric analysis.
Results:
Patients with LV ejection fraction <45% (n=22) were compared with those with normal function (n=46). The two groups had similar age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, medical therapy, LV dimension, and number of diseased vessels. Patients with LV dysfunction, by study design, were more symptomatic and had a lower LV ejection fraction. The two groups had similar white cell count and mononuclear cells. The absolute number of CD34 and CD133 cells was significantly (P<0.05) higher in patients with LV dysfunction as compared with patients with normal function or healthy participants. In contrast, CD14 cells were significantly (P=0.005) lower in the former patients than in the latter, whereas no significant difference was noted in the number of cells positive for CD105 among groups.
Conclusion:
Subpopulations of EPCs have a discordant behavior in CAD patients with or without LV dysfunction, with cells positive for the endothelial markers CD34 and CD133 being increased and cells that promote vasculogenesis and microvascular development being significantly reduced.
