title: Maternal circulating CD34+VEGFR-2+ and CD133+VEGFR-2+ progenitor cells increase during normal pregnancy but are reduced in women with preeclampsia.
abstract: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) may contribute to vascular endothelial cell homeostasis, and low levels of these cells are predictive of cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that circulating EPCs increase in number during uncomplicated pregnancy but are reduced in women with preeclampsia. Peripheral blood was obtained from pregnant women and from nulligravidas in cross-sectional design. Cells expressing CD34 or CD133, in combination with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), were enumerated by flow cytometry. Both CD34(+)VEGFR-2(+) (doubly positive) and CD133(+)VEGFR-2( +) cells were significantly increased during the second and third trimesters of uncomplicated pregnancy compared to the first trimester. First trimester and nulligravida groups did not differ. Endothelial progenitor cells, quantified by flow cytometry or by circulating angiogenic cell (CAC) culture assay, were significantly reduced in women with preeclampsia compared to third trimester controls. Circulating EPCs appear to increase during normal pregnancy, and comparatively reduced numbers of these cells exist during preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edmunds
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Plymire
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hubel
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000097:blood*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2