Effects of exercise training on endothelial progenitor cells in patients with chronic heart failure.
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.
Sarto
Patrizio
P
Department of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, Mirano Hospital, Mirano, Venice, Italy.
Balducci
Elena
E
Balconi
Giovanna
G
Fiordaliso
Fabio
F
Merlo
Laura
L
Tuzzato
Giancarlo
G
Pappagallo
Giovanni L
GL
Frigato
Nicoletta
N
Zanocco
Albino
A
Forestieri
Concetta
C
Azzarello
Giuseppe
G
Mazzucco
Antonio
A
Valenti
Maria Teresa
MT
Alborino
Flora
F
Noventa
Donatella
D
Vinante
Orazio
O
Pascotto
Piero
P
Sartore
Saverio
S
Dejana
Elisabetta
E
Latini
Roberto
R
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
D016207:Cytokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A