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Published on: September 15, 2017
Increased number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in patients with psoriasis--preliminary report
A Batycka-Baran1, M Paprocka, A Krawczenko
1Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego, Wroclaw, PolandInstitute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla, Wroclaw, Poland.
Background:
Numerous studies have demonstrated increased cardiovascular risk in psoriasis. Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) have been proposed as a new marker of endothelial dysfunction that plays an important role in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to compare the number of CECs in psoriatic patients to a control group and to analyze possible correlations between the numbers of CECs and the plasma levels of classical markers of endothelial dysfunction, such as: sICAM-1, sE-selectin and von Willebrand factor (vWF).
Methods:
The number of CECs, identified as CD146 + / CD45- cells, were determined in peripheral blood with using flow cytometry in psoriatic patients (n = 63) and controls (n = 31). The plasma levels of: sICAM-1, sE-selectin, vWF were measured with ELISA. The severity of psoriasis was assessed with PASI.
Results:
The number of CECs was significantly increased in psoriatic patients compared with controls (P < 0.00001) and positively correlated with disease severity (R = 0.360; P = 0.0037). The levels of sICAM-1, sE-selectin and vWF were significantly elevated in psoriatic patients (P < 0.00001; P < 0.00001; P = 0.00072, respectively). The number of CECs was significantly, positively correlated with the levels of sICAM-1 (R = 0.393; P = 0.0014) and vWF (R = 0.314; P = 0.012) in psoriatic patients. The levels of sICAM-1 and sE-selectin were positively correlated with disease severity (R = 0.356; P = 0.0041 and R = 0.407; P = 0.0009, respectively).
Conclusion:
The increased number of CECs that correlates with disease severity and plasma levels of sICAM-1 and vWF may indicate endothelial dysfunction or injury in patients with psoriasis.
