Endothelial dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a reduced number and impaired function of endothelial progenitor cells.
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality attributable to accelerated atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the role played by endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in the defence system against arteriosclerosis.


METHODS
The number and function of EPC in 13 young patients with RA with low disease activity (DAS28 3.5 (0.3)) and 13 healthy control subjects was studied. Endothelial function was investigated by agonist-induced, endothelium dependent vasodilatation measured by the forearm blood flow technique. Migratory activity and adhesion of EPC to tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) activated mature endothelial cells and components of the extracellular matrix were tested in vitro. Putative precursor populations (CD34(+), CD34(+)/CD133(+), and CD34(+)/KDR(+) haematopoietic stem cells) were measured by flow cytometric analysis.


RESULTS
Acetylcholine-induced, endothelium dependent vasodilatation was reduced by about 50% in patients with RA, indicating endothelial dysfunction, whereas endothelium-independent vasodilatation in response to glyceryl trinitrate was at control level. Significantly reduced numbers of EPC were found in the patients compared with controls. Migratory activity of EPC was decreased in patients with RA. Adhesion to mature endothelial cells after activation with TNFalpha was enhanced only in controls. The adhesion to matrix proteins and the number of putative precursor cell lineages was comparable in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Endothelial dysfunction in patients with RA with low grade inflammation is associated with a reduced number and partial dysfunction of EPC. Further studies are needed to explore whether interventions that potentially ameliorate the number and function of EPC also improve endothelial function in these patients.
Herbrig
K
K
Department of Medicine III, Nephrology, Technical University of Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01309 Dresden, Germany. kayherbrig@web.de
Haensel
S
S
Oelschlaegel
U
U
Pistrosch
F
F
Foerster
S
S
Passauer
J
J
D000109:Acetylcholine; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D014665:Vasodilator Agents
D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D000109:Acetylcholine