Circulating CD34+ cells, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular risk.
OBJECTIVE
Circulating progenitor cells are believed to participate in cardiovascular (CV) homeostasis and their exhaustion has been linked to CV damage. As general agreement on their characterization is lacking, this work was carried out to assess the relationships between different antigenic profiles of progenitor cells and CV risk, with special regard to metabolic syndrome (MetSyn).


RESULTS
CD34, CD133, and KDR were used to quantify circulating progenitors in 214 subjects at different levels of CV risk. In a cross-analysis of six different cell subtypes (CD34(+), CD133(+), CD34(+)CD133(+), CD34(+)KDR(+), CD133(+)KDR(+), and CD34(+)CD133(+)KDR(+)), CD34(+) progenitors showed the best correlation with CV parameters and risk estimates. Components of the MetSyn were all characterized by reduction of CD34(+) cells and acted synergistically in decreasing CD34(+) cell count. Moreover, CD34(+) cell count demonstrated a high performance in detecting high CV risk.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate that CD34 identifies progenitor cells linked to CV risk, showing a close negative correlation between CD34(+) cells and CV risk, as well as a synergic detrimental effect of clustered metabolic components. Progenitor cell count may be used as a surrogate marker of CV risk, whereas extensive antigenic characterization may not be useful for this purpose.
Fadini
Gian Paolo
GP
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Metabolic Diseases, University of Padua, Medical School, Padua, Italy.
de Kreutzenberg
Saula Vigili
SV
Coracina
Anna
A
Baesso
Ilenia
I
Agostini
Carlo
C
Tiengo
Antonio
A
Avogaro
Angelo
A
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*
D018952:Antigens, CD34