The effects of ethanol consumption on vasculogenesis potential in nonhuman primates.
BACKGROUND
Vasculogenesis is essential to the preservation and repair of damaged or diseased vessels. Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug among young adults, but its effects on vessel growth and repair are unknown. The basis of vascular repair is endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) recruitment to assist in the formation of new vascular network (vasculogenesis). Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure the effects of ethanol consumption on the production, mobilization and vasculogenesis potential EPCs in nonhuman primates.


METHODS
Four to five year-old (young adult) male rhesus monkeys consumed monkey chow and water (Control, n = 7), or chow and water + ethanol (Alcohol, 2.45 g/d, n = 7) for 12 months. Peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples were collected for fluorescence-activated cell-sorting analysis of cell surface antigens (CD45, CD31, CD44, CD133, VEGF-R2 - or KDR); and for capillary formation on Matrigel-coated plates.


RESULTS
There were greater numbers of nonhematopoeitic stromal cells (CD45-) and putative mesenchymal progenitor cells (CD45-/CD44+) in the PB and BM of Alcohol versus Control monkeys (p < 0.05). Additionally, there were greater numbers of EPCs (CD45-/CD133+/KDR+) in the BM and PB of Alcohol versus Control monkeys (p < 0.05). However, the EPCs of Alcohol monkeys were less likely to form capillaries on matrigel-coated plates than Control monkeys (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Ethanol consumption in monkeys markedly increased the production and mobilization of EPCs, but decreased their ability to form capillaries. The pathophysiologic consequences of such effects are unclear, but may represent an ethanol-induced chronic stress on the BM, resulting in EPC.
Williams
J Koudy
JK
Department of Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 25157, USA. kwilliam@wfubmc.edu
Baptista
Pedro M
PM
Daunais
James B
JB
Szeliga
Kendall T
KT
Friedman
David P
DP
Soker
Shay
S
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase