title: Peripheral blood CD34+KDR+ endothelial progenitor cells are determinants of subclinical atherosclerosis in a middle-aged general population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Disruption of the endothelial layer is the first step in the atherogenic process. Experimental studies have shown that endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are involved in endothelial homeostasis and repair. Conversely, EPC depletion has been demonstrated in the setting of established atherosclerotic diseases. With this background, we evaluated whether variations in the number of EPCs are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), levels of circulating EPCs, and cardiovascular risk were compared in 137 healthy subjects. Six subpopulations of progenitor cells were determined by flow cytometry on the basis of the surface expression of CD34, CD133, and KDR antigens: CD34(+), CD133(+), CD34(+)CD133(+), CD34(+)KDR(+), CD133(+)KDR(+), and CD34(+)CD133(+)KDR(+).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among different antigenic profiles of EPCs, only CD34(+)KDR(+) cells were significantly reduced in subjects with increased IMT. Specifically, CD34(+)KDR(+) cells were inversely correlated with IMT, even after adjustment for hsCRP and 10-year Framingham risk and independently of other cardiovascular parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depletion of CD34(+)KDR(+) EPCs is an independent predictor of early subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy subjects and may provide additional information beyond classic risk factors and inflammatory markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova Medical School, Padova, Italy. gianpaolofadini@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Fadini
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coracina
authors.forename: Ilenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baesso
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agostini
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiengo
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avogaro
authors.forename: Saula Vigili
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: de Kreutzenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002452:Cell Count; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000954:Antigens, Surface