Quantitative and functional characteristics of endothelial progenitor cells in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients
M Skrzypkowska1, J Myśliwska1, B Słomiński1
1Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
Insights
Newly diagnosed hypertension is linked to more immature endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) but fewer cells crucial for blood vessel repair. This suggests a compensatory mechanism for impaired cell function in hypertensive patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Hematology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are vital for cardiovascular homeostasis.
- Hypertension impairs endothelial integrity and function.
- Understanding EPC subsets in hypertension is crucial for disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of endothelial precursor cell subsets in patients with newly diagnosed arterial hypertension.
- To correlate these findings with early signs of kidney damage.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze peripheral blood CD34(+) cell subsets.
- Twenty-four untreated hypertensive patients and 45 healthy controls were studied.
- Evaluated markers included CD45, CD133, VEGFR2, CXCR4, and ICAM-1.
Main Results:
- Hypertensive patients showed increased CD34(+) cells and less differentiated CD34(+)CD45(dim/neg)CD133(+) progenitors.
- No significant differences were observed in CD34(+)CD45(neg)VEGFR2(+) or CD34(+)CD45(neg)CD133(+)VEGFR2(+) cells.
- Hypertensive patients had reduced CD34(+)CD45(neg)VEGFR2(+)CXCR4(+) and CD34(+)CD45(neg)VEGFR2(+)ICAM-1(+) cells, correlating with lower GFR and microalbuminuria.
Conclusions:
- Elevated numbers of less differentiated EPCs may compensate for impaired migration and adhesion in differentiated subsets.
- These findings highlight altered EPC profiles in early hypertension, potentially linked to early nephropathy.
- Further research is needed to explore the therapeutic implications of these EPC subset changes.
Abstract:
Populations of peripheral blood CD34(+) cells comprise precursors of endothelial cells. These precursors are crucial to cardiovascular homeostasis. Hypertension, as one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease, is associated with the loss of endothelium structural integrity and its functional impairment. The aim of our study was to evaluate the subsets of endothelial precursor cells in patients with newly diagnosed arterial hypertension. Twenty-four newly diagnosed, previously untreated hypertensive patients aged 59.5 ± 12.5 years, were enrolled into the study group, whereas the control group comprised 45 healthy subjects, 55.5±10.0 years old. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were analysed by flow cytometry. The results showed that hypertensive patients were characterized by a significantly higher percentage and number of the CD34(+) cells and simultaneously less differentiated CD34(+)CD45(dim/neg)CD133(+) progenitors. The percentage and number of CD34(+)CD45(neg)VEGFR2(+) and CD34(+)CD45(neg)CD133(+)VEGFR2(+) cells were not different from the control group. Moreover, patients had a significantly lower percentage and number of the CD34(+)CD45(neg)VEGFR2(+)CXCR4(+) and CD34(+)CD45(neg)VEGFR2(+)ICAM-1(+) cells than healthy individuals. These changes were paralleled by early symptoms of nephropathy, that is, lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR) values and borderline micro albuminuria. Our results indicate that an elevation in the number of less differentiated progenitors may be a mechanism compensating for defects of migration and adhesion, present in a more differentiated subset.
