Levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in systemic sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
Contradictory results have been reported regarding vasculogenesis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our aim was to investigate bone marrow-derived circulating endothelial precursors (EPCs) and activated circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in SSc patients.


METHODS
Peripheral blood from consecutive patients with SSc hospitalised for systemic follow-up was analysed and compared with blood from patients with active refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). EPCs were quantified by cell sorting and flow cytometry and were identified as circulating CD34+CD133+ cells. Activated CECs were defined as CD105+CD62+CD105+CD102+CD105+CD106+ cells.


RESULTS
Patients with SSc had higher putative EPC levels than OA patients, but lower levels than RA patients. In SSc patients, EPC levels increased with European disease activity score. Activated CEC levels were high in SSc patients and RA patients, but not correlated with EPC levels.


CONCLUSIONS
These results together and previous data suggest that EPCs may be recruited during active vascular disease but that the sustained ischaemic conditions of SSc may eventually lead to EPCs depletion.
Allanore
Y
Y
Rheumatology A and Immunology departments, René Descartes University, Medical School, Cochin Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, France.
Batteux
F
F
Avouac
J
J
Assous
N
N
Weill
B
B
Kahan
A
A
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019040:E-Selectin; D000071063:Endoglin; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000097:blood; D010455:Peptides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D006023:Glycoproteins; C065289:ICAM2 protein, human; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1