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Circulating endothelial progenitor cells decrease in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and increase after

Yuanyuan Qi1, Qian Jiang, Chao Chen

  • 1Departments of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China.

Plos One
|November 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) levels decrease in infants who develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy increased EPCs and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in these infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pulmonology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) dysfunction is implicated in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) pathogenesis.
  • Investigating the temporal relationship between EPC levels and BPD development is crucial.
  • Evaluating the therapeutic potential of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) on EPCs in neonates is warranted.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between early postnatal EPC changes and the subsequent development of BPD.
  • To assess the impact of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) on EPC levels and related growth factors in at-risk infants.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 60 preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation, <1500g birth weight).
  • Measured EPC levels (flow cytometry) and plasma VEGF at multiple time points (birth to 36 weeks PMA).
  • Administered iNO to select infants and analyzed EPC and VEGF changes pre- and post-treatment.

Main Results:

  • Infants who developed BPD had lower EPC levels at 7 and 21 days compared to non-BPD infants.
  • BPD infants showed persistently lower VEGF concentrations from birth to 21 days.
  • iNO treatment increased EPC counts (KDR(+)CD133(+), CD34(+)KDR(+)CD133(+)) and VEGF levels in infants who later developed BPD.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced EPC levels at 7 days correlate with BPD development in preterm infants.
  • iNO therapy demonstrates a potential to increase EPCs and VEGF, suggesting a possible role in BPD management.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms of EPC reduction in BPD and the efficacy of iNO in prevention.
Abstract

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