CD34+/CD144+ circulating endothelial cells as an indicator of carotid atherosclerosis
Takamichi Sugimoto1, Naohisa Hosomi2, Tomohisa Nezu2
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan; Department of Neurology, Chugoku Rosai Hospital, Kure, Japan.
Insights
Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are elevated in patients with large artery atherosclerosis and chronic ischemic stroke, potentially indicating carotid atherosclerosis severity. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) showed no significant differences.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Neurology
- Cardiology
Background:
- The link between circulating endothelial cells (CECs) or endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and carotid atherosclerosis indicators like intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque score is unclear in chronic ischemic stroke patients.
- Understanding these relationships is crucial for assessing atherosclerosis progression and stroke risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between CECs and EPCs and carotid atherosclerosis markers in patients with chronic ischemic stroke.
- To compare these markers in patients with different stroke etiologies and varying degrees of atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- 58 patients with chronic ischemic stroke or stroke risk factors were analyzed.
- Intima-media thickness (IMT) measured by IntimaScope; CECs (CD34+/CD144+) and EPCs (CD34+/CD133+) quantified via flow cytometry.
- Patients categorized by stroke type (large artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, small vessel occlusion) and atherosclerosis severity (plaque score, IMT).
Main Results:
- CECs were significantly higher in patients with large artery atherosclerosis compared to cardioembolism or small vessel occlusion.
- A positive correlation was found between plaque score and CEC count.
- CECs were elevated in patients with moderate to severe atherosclerosis compared to those with no or mild atherosclerosis.
- No significant differences in EPC counts were observed between patient groups.
Conclusions:
- Elevated CEC levels are associated with large artery atherosclerosis in patients with chronic ischemic stroke.
- CEC count may serve as a biomarker reflecting the severity of carotid atherosclerosis.
- EPCs do not appear to be significantly altered in this patient cohort.
Background:
The relationships between the number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) or endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and indicators of carotid atherosclerosis, such as the intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque score are not well characterized in patients with chronic ischemic stroke. The objective of this study was to investigate these relationships in patients with chronic ischemic stroke and in patients with risk factors for stroke.
Methods:
A total of 58 patients (69.6 ± 10.0 years, 21 females) with chronic ischemic stroke or with risk factors for stroke were included in this study. IMT was measured using an IntimaScope, and the numbers of CECs and EPCs were measured using flow cytometry. CECs and EPCs were defined as CD34+/CD144+ and CD34+/CD133+ cells, respectively.
Results:
The number of CECs in patients with large artery atherosclerosis was higher than that in patients with cardioembolism or small vessel occlusion (P < .05). In contrast, there were no significant differences in the number of EPCs between groups. A positive correlation was also observed between the plaque score and the number of CECs (r(2) = .139, P < .05, n = 36). Moreover, the number of CECs in patients with moderate and severe atherosclerosis (.32 ± .11/μL, n = 22) was higher than that in patients with no plaque and mild atherosclerosis (.25 ± .07/μL, n = 34, P < .05).
Conclusions:
The number of CECs was high in patients with large artery atherosclerosis who experienced chronic ischemic stroke. And this number may reflect severity of carotid atherosclerosis.
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