Decreased number of circulating CD34+KDR+ cells in asymptomatic subjects with preclinical atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPCs) can be considered as a cardiovascular risk marker before event has occurred, that is less firmly established than in clinically overt atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Number of CD34+KDR+ cell number per ml blood was measured by flow cytometry in 84 untreated subjects without cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerotic plaque was detected by ultrasound in carotid, abdominal aortic and femoral sites and the number of sites affected by plaque among these three sites was counted as 0, 1, 2 or 3. Additionally, intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by computerized ultrasound imaging of both common carotid segments.


RESULTS
CD34+KDR+ cell number decreased by 48, 29 or 30% in the presence of carotid, aortic or femoral plaque (p<0.001, 0.05, 0.05, respectively) as compared to the absence of plaque and by 70% in the presence of three sites affected with plaque as compared with 0 site with plaque (p<0.01) but did not change with increasing IMT tertiles. Adjustment for Framingham risk score, that was also associated with decreased CD34+KDR+ cell number (p<0.001), made CD34+KDR+ cell number associations with plaque insignificant, except at the carotid site (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced CEPC number may participate to preclinical stage of atherosclerosis and provide additional information to traditional risk factors as regards global risk assessment.
Chironi
Gilles
G
Centre de Médecine Préventive Cardiovasculaire, Hôpital Broussais/Groupe HEGP-Broussais/APHP/Université René Descartes-Faculté de Médecine, France.
Walch
Laurence
L
Pernollet
Marie-Gabrielle
MG
Gariepy
Jérôme
J
Levenson
Jaime
J
Rendu
Francine
F
Simon
Alain
A
D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000097:blood*; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers