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A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study of the Effects of Acupuncture on Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells in
Jeannette Painovich1, Anita Phancao1, Puja Mehta1
1is a research acupuncturist; is a cardiology fellow; is director of the Non-Invasive Vascular Function Research Lab; is a research associate III; is a clinical research associate II; is a research scientist and assistant professor; is an acupuncturist; is an acupuncturist; is an acupuncturist; and is a professor of medicine and the center director. All are located at Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. is the director of regenerative medicine research at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Texas.
Insights
Traditional acupuncture (TA) may increase circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) expressing VEGF-R2+ in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. This pilot study suggests TA could enhance vascular repair mechanisms in individuals with CHD.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Integrative Medicine
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of mortality in the US, with persistent risks despite secondary prevention.
- Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a role in vascular repair and may impact atherosclerosis.
- Traditional acupuncture (TA) is a Chinese medicine modality with potential benefits for CHD-related conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of traditional acupuncture (TA) on circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
Main Methods:
- A randomized, controlled pilot study was conducted with 13 participants.
- Participants were divided into three groups: TA, sham acupuncture (SA), and waiting control (WC).
- The study measured circulating EPCs expressing CD34+/CD133+ and CD34+/VEGF-R2+ over 12 weeks.
Main Results:
- The TA group showed a significantly greater increase in EPCs expressing CD34+/VEGF-R2+ compared to the SA group (P = .04).
- No significant differences were observed in immature EPCs expressing CD34+/CD133+ between groups.
- The mean age of participants was 59 ± 10.9 years, with 8 men and 5 women.
Conclusions:
- Traditional acupuncture (TA) may modulate circulating EPC levels by enhancing the mobilization of VEGF-R2+ subpopulations.
- These findings suggest TA could potentially benefit CHD through augmented EPC regenerative pathways.
- Further research is needed to confirm the therapeutic potential of TA in CHD via EPC augmentation.
Context:
Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the number one killer of men and women in the United States, and despite traditional secondary prevention, individuals with the disease remain at risk. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) may have beneficial effects on atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, and vascular repair and may contribute systemically to ongoing endogenous repair processes. Traditional acupuncture (TA), a modality used in the practice of Chinese medicine, appears to have beneficial effects in many areas associated with CHD.
Objective:
The study examined the effects of TA on circulating EPCs in individuals with CHD.
Design:
The research team performed a randomized, controlled pilot study.
Setting:
All interventions were performed at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Participants:
The study included 13 participants in 3 groups: (1) TA (n = 5), (2) sham acupuncture (SA, n = 5), or (3) waiting control (WC, n = 3).
Intervention:
The TA group received acupuncture treatments for 12 wk at CHD-specific sites, while the SA group received no-needle pressure at nonacupuncture sites for the same period, and the WC group received no intervention.
Outcome Measures:
The study measured the number of EPCs circulating in peripheral blood to determine cell surface markers for expressions of cluster of differentiation 34, 133 (CD34+/CD133+) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGF-R2+).
Results:
Eight men and 5 women with a mean age of 59 ± 10.9 y were included. Compared with their measurements at baseline, members of the TA group had a significantly greater change in the level of EPCs expressing CD34+/VEGF-R2+ compared with the SA group (P = .04). No group differences were evident in immature EPCs expressing CD34+/CD133+.
Conclusion:
The study's results suggest that TA can alter the number of EPCs circulating in peripheral blood by increasing the mobilization of the VEGF-R2+ EPC subpopulations. Further studies are warranted to evaluate whether TA can beneficially affect CHD via augmentation of EPC regenerative pathways.
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