Elevated endothelial progenitor cells during painful sickle cell crisis.
OBJECTIVE
Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) counts were determined in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) to elucidate their role in SCD-related ischemia-induced angiogenesis and reendothelialization.


METHODS
Circulating EPC counts (KDR(+)/CD34(+)/Cd45(dim) cells) and their relation to serum levels of EPC mobilizing growth factors erythropoietin, vascular endothelial growth factor, and interleukin-8 were investigated in SCD patients during asymptomatic state (n=66) and painful crisis (n=36) and compared to healthy controls (n=13).


RESULTS
EPC counts were comparable between controls (0; range, 0-1.1 cells/mL) and patients (0; range, 0-0 cells/mL) in asymptomatic state, but were significantly higher during painful crisis (41.7; range, 0-186 cells/mL; p<0.05). Also in a paired analysis of 12 patients who were included both during asymptomatic state and painful crisis, EPC counts increased significantly during painful crisis (from 0 [range, 0-0] to 26 [range, 0-149 cell/mL; p<0.05). EPC counts were not related to any of the measured growth factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher EPC counts during painful crisis might indicate a role for EPC mobilization in reendothelialization. As a relationship of EPCs with the established mobilizing growth factors, measured in this study was not observed, the mechanism of EPC mobilization in SCD remains to be elucidated.
van Beem
Rachel T
RT
Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Nur
Erfan
E
Zwaginga
Jaap Jan
JJ
Landburg
Precious P
PP
van Beers
Eduard J
EJ
Duits
Ashley J
AJ
Brandjes
Dees P
DP
Lommerse
Ingrid
I
de Boer
Hetty C
HC
van der Schoot
C Ellen
CE
Schnog
John-John B
JJ
Biemond
Bart J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood*; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood*; D010146:Pain; D013234:Stem Cells; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D016209:Interleukin-8; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D004921:Erythropoietin