title: Smoke exposure and circulating progenitor cells: evidence for modulation of antioxidant enzymes and cell count.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cigarette smoking is involved in vascular inflammation and impairment of circulating progenitor cells (CPCs), including endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). The study aim was to evaluate the redox balance of these cells in relation to smoking exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Circulating cells from 36 healthy smokers and 26 controls were isolated and identified by flow cytometry. ROS generation, mRNA and protein cell expression, and enzymatic activity of MnSOD, catalase, and GPx-1 were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smokers showed higher levels of CRP and fibrinogen and lower levels of HDL-C. ROS and MnSOD were higher (p<0.001), while catalase and GPx-1 were lower (p<0.001) as was EPC number (p<0.001) in smokers. CPC and EPC correlated with HDL-C, CRP, ROS and enzyme expression and activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that smoking exposure involves antioxidant enzymes in CPCs and EPCs and that the inflammatory response in smokers plays an important role in impairing cells and their antioxidant functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mandraffino
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sardo
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riggio
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Ascola
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loddo
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alibrandi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saitta
authors.forename: Egidio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Imbalzano
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mandraffino
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venza
authors.forename: Enrico M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mormina
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saitta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana; D000094765:Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009573:Nitrites; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012906:Smoke; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000094765:Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1