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Impaired activity of circulating EPCs and endothelial function are associated with increased Syntax score in patients

Bin Zhang1, Dong Li2, Gexiu Liu3

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Disease, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Affiliated Jiangmen Hospital of Sun Yat‑Sen University, Jiangmen, Guangdong 529030, P.R. China.

Molecular Medicine Reports
|March 24, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) activity and endothelial function decline with increasing coronary artery disease (CAD) severity, as indicated by Syntax score. This impairment is linked to reduced nitric oxide (NO) production, offering new markers for CAD assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Cell Biology
  • Biomedical Science

Background:

  • Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) number is inversely related to Syntax score in coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • The impact of EPC function and endothelial function on Syntax score in CAD remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the relationship between EPC activity, endothelial function, and Syntax score in CAD patients.
  • To explore the underlying mechanisms, including nitric oxide (NO) production.

Main Methods:

  • 60 CAD patients grouped by Syntax score and 20 healthy controls.
  • Evaluated circulating EPC number, migratory, proliferative, and adhesive activities.
  • Measured flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) for endothelial function and plasma/EPC-secreted NO levels.

Main Results:

  • Higher Syntax scores correlated with lower EPC number and activity, and reduced FMD.
  • Decreased levels of NO in plasma and secreted by EPCs were observed with increasing Syntax score.
  • Significant negative associations found between FMD, EPCs, NO levels, and Syntax score.

Conclusions:

  • Patients with higher Syntax scores exhibit diminished EPC function and endothelial function.
  • Attenuated nitric oxide production may underlie the observed functional deficits.
  • EPC activity and endothelial function serve as potential surrogate markers for CAD severity and complexity.

Keywords:
coronary artery diseaseSyntax scoreendothelial progenitor cellendothelial functionnitric oxide

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