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Updated: Mar 31, 2026
Isolation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Blood
Published on: September 14, 2017
[Circulating endothelial progenitor cell levels in treated hypertensive patients]
C Maroun-Eid1, A Ortega-Hernández2, M Abad1
1Unidad de Hipertensión, Hospital Clínico San Carlos-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, España.
Treated hypertensive patients have lower levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), despite controlled blood pressure. This reduction in EPCs may contribute to their persistent cardiovascular risk, highlighting a potential therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Endothelial Biology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Optimally treated hypertensive patients retain a significant cardiovascular event risk, suggesting unknown factors.
- Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are crucial for endothelial integrity and function, implicating them in cardiovascular disease.
- This study investigates circulating EPCs and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in treated hypertensive patients with controlled blood pressure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in treated hypertensive patients.
- To compare EPC and VEGF levels in hypertensive patients with controlled blood pressure against a healthy control group.
- To explore the potential role of reduced EPCs in the residual cardiovascular risk of hypertensive patients.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 108 treated hypertensive patients with controlled blood pressure and a healthy control group.
- Plasma levels of EPCs (CD34+/KDR+ and CD34+/VE-cadherin+) were quantified using flow cytometry.
- Plasma VEGF concentration was measured via ELISA.
Main Results:
- Hypertensive patients, despite controlled blood pressure, exhibited significantly lower circulating levels of CD34+/KDR+ and CD34+/VE-cadherin+ EPCs compared to controls.
- Plasma VEGF concentrations were found to be higher in hypertensive patients than in the control group.
- A significant proportion of hypertensive patients were obese (45%), but cardiovascular parameters were otherwise within normal ranges.
Conclusions:
- Treated hypertensive patients demonstrate a reduced number of circulating EPCs, even with optimal blood pressure management.
- This decrease in EPCs may partially explain the heightened residual cardiovascular risk observed in these patients.
- EPCs represent a potential therapeutic target for mitigating cardiovascular risk in hypertension.
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