title: Reduced levels of putative endothelial progenitor and CXCR4+ cells in coronary artery disease: kinetics following percutaneous coronary intervention and association with clinical characteristics.
abstract: Levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and CXCR4-positive cells are decreased in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD); however, their ability to change in response to acute vascular injury remains to be elucidated. Progenitor and CXCR4-positive cells were analysed by flow cytometry from the peripheral blood of 23 healthy controls and 23 patients with CAD, of which 13 patients underwent angiogram and 10 patients received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation. Baseline levels of progenitor and CXCR4-positive cells were substantially reduced in CAD patients compared to controls, although they were still capable of increasing in response to vascular injury. Levels of progenitor and CXCR4-positive cells were increased to a greater extent in the PCI group compared to angiogram patients. At presentation, levels of putative endothelial progenitor and CXCR4-positive cells were found to be negatively correlated with disease severity. A one-year follow-up revealed that out of the cell populations examined, only levels of CXCR4-positive cells were positively correlated with angina frequency in the PCI group, but not in patients receiving angiogram. Baseline levels of progenitor cells are differentially increased depending upon the severity of vascular injury incurred, regardless of a significant deficit in baseline levels in CAD patients. Levels of putative EPCs and CXCR4-positive cells were negatively correlated with disease severity at presentation, however, only CXCR4-positive cells were associated with patient condition in a one-year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Section, Department of Neuroscience, University of Siena, via A. Moro, 53100 Siena, Italy; Center for Stem Cell Research, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Colin Gerard
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caporali
authors.forename: Alda F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Huqi
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Focardi
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mondillo
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pierli
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marzilli
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002469:Cell Separation; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4