Reproducibility of circulating endothelial cell enumeration and activation in children and adolescents
Justin R Ryder1, Michael J O'Connell2, Kyle D Rudser2
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Introduction:
We examined the reproducibility of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) enumeration and activation among youth.
Materials And Methods:
CECs from 151 youth were measured at baseline and 1 week follow-up. Enumeration of CEC in fresh whole blood was determined by direct assessment of buffy coat smears (CD146+ nucleated cells) and activated CEC (%VCAM-1 expression) was determined after immunomagnetic enrichment and co-staining of nuclei, plus positivity for P1H12 and VCAM-1.
Results:
No statistically significant difference in CEC enumeration (1.2 ± 2.5 vs 1.3 ± 2.2 CEC/milliliter of whole blood, p = 0.745) or activated CEC (57.1 ± 24.4 vs 58.0 ± 21.3 %VCAM-1, p = 0.592) between baseline and 1 week follow-up.
Conclusion:
On a cohort basis, CEC enumeration and activation are reproducible in youth. Relatively high individual biological variability may limit its clinical utility.
