Circulating proangiogenic cell activity is associated with cardiovascular disease risk

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Vascular injury triggers bone marrow-derived cells for repair.
• Proangiogenic cell activity is crucial for vascular health.
• A new biomarker for circulating proangiogenic cell activity was investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the relationship between a novel biomarker of circulating proangiogenic cell activity and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• To determine associations with CVD risk factors and clinical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an angiogenic colony-forming unit (CFU-A) assay to measure proangiogenic cell activity.
• Studied 532 subjects across the CVD risk spectrum.
• Followed up on 232 subjects with established CVD.

Main Results:

• CFU-A counts significantly correlated with the burden of CVD risk factors (p < 0.001).
• Subjects with symptomatic CVD exhibited higher CFU-A counts than those without (p < 0.001).
• Higher CFU-A levels in CVD patients predicted adverse events like death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (p = 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Circulating proangiogenic cell activity, assessed by CFU-A, rises with CVD risk factor accumulation and presence of established CVD.
• Elevated proangiogenic cell activity is associated with worse clinical outcomes in individuals with CVD.