title: Nifedipine improves endothelial function: role of endothelial progenitor cells.
abstract: Nifedipine has been shown to improve endothelial function. Recent studies have indicated that endothelial function is correlated with the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), but it is unclear whether nifedipine affects the number and function of EPCs. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of nifedipine on the number and function of EPCs and to investigate the relationship between improvement of endothelial function and EPC numbers in patients with hypertension. Stage 1 hypertensive men (n=37) were randomly divided into the nifedipine group and the control untreated group. The nifedipine group was administered slow-release nifedipine (20 mg) once daily. At baseline and after 4 weeks, flow-mediated dilation, blood pressure, biochemical data, and number of circulating CD34+CD133+ progenitor cells and EPCs were measured. The direct effects of nifedipine on EPC number and function were assessed in vitro. In the nifedipine group, flow-mediated dilation and the numbers of circulating CD34+CD133+ progenitor cells and EPCs were increased, along with a decrease of serum malondialdehyde low-density lipoprotein. The improvement of flow-mediated dilation by nifedipine was correlated with the increase of circulating CD34+CD133+ progenitor cells. Nifedipine also improved angiogenesis-related functions of EPCs (differentiation, migration, and resistance to oxidative stress) in vitro. Thus, nifedipine improved endothelial function and EPC function in stage 1 hypertensive subjects. The latter action may be mediated by reduction of oxidative stress and suppression of EPC apoptosis. These results demonstrate that nifedipine preserves endothelial integrity in patients with hypertension, at least partly, by enhancing EPC numbers and activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kureishi-Bando
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Numaguchi
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dohi
authors.forename: Genjiro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Ryuzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Ton J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Rabelink
authors.forename: Toyoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murohara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009543:Nifedipine