title: Effects of exercise training on endothelial progenitor cells in patients with chronic heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The enhancement of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) obtained by exercise training can be beneficial to patients with cardiac disease. Changes in the levels and differentiation of CD34(pos)/KDR(pos) EPCs, as well as the plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 EPC-mobilizing cytokines, were evaluated in patients with chronic heart failure after 8 weeks of supervised aerobic training (SAT) and 8 weeks of subsequent discontinued SAT (DSAT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of circulating EPC and EPC differentiation potential of 22 patients who underwent SAT were studied by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis and colony forming-unit assay, respectively. The plasma levels of VEGF and SDF-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In response to SAT, the levels of both EPC and VEGF/SDF-1 markedly increased (P < .001 vs baseline) but returned to the baseline levels after DSAT. A similar change was observed with the EPC clonogenic potential, but on DSAT the baseline level was incompletely attained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In response to SAT, patients with chronic heart failure show enhanced EPC levels and clonogenic potential that is mirrored by increased plasma VEGF and SDF-1 levels. DSAT can interfere with the maintenance of training-acquired VEGF/SDF-1-related EPC levels and clonogenic potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, Mirano Hospital, Mirano, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarto
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balducci
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balconi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fiordaliso
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Merlo
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tuzzato
authors.forename: Giovanni L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Pappagallo
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frigato
authors.forename: Albino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanocco
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Forestieri
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Azzarello
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzucco
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alborino
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Noventa
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vinante
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pascotto
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sartore
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dejana
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Latini
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A