Circulating endothelial progenitor cells during human pregnancy.
The precise molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate maternal vascular development during gestation are largely unknown. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which play an important role in vascular homeostasis, have been discovered in the circulation. We examined the level of circulating EPCs throughout uncomplicated pregnancies (n = 20) and assessed the correlation between serum estradiol levels and the number of EPCs. The number of circulating EPCs increased gradually and paralleled the progression of gestational age. In addition, the number of EPCs correlated significantly with the level of serum estradiol. The present study suggests that EPCs may play an important role in the regulation and maintenance of the placental development and vascular integrity during pregnancy.
Sugawara
Junichi
J
Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1, Seiryomachi, Aobaku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan. sugawara@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp
Mitsui-Saito
Minori
M
Hoshiai
Tetsuro
T
Hayashi
Chika
C
Kimura
Yoshitaka
Y
Okamura
Kunihiro
K
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
D004958:Estradiol