title: New immunophenotype of blood endothelial progenitor cells and endothelial microparticles in patients with arterial erectile dysfunction and late-onset hypogonadism.
abstract: Blood endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and microparticles (EMP) have been proposed as markers of endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new immunophenotype of EPCs and EMPs in patients with arterial erectile dysfunction (ED) and late-onset hypogonadism (LOH). Fifty patients (58.2 ± 0.7 years) with ED and LOH were enrolled in this study. Their EPC and EMP concentrations were compared with those of 20 patients with arterial ED alone (61.2 ± 1.2 years) and of 20 healthy men (controls; 61.4 ± 1.2 years). EPC (CD45(neg)/CD34(pos)/CD144(pos)) and EMP (CD45(neg)/CD144(pos)/annexin V(pos)) blood concentrations were evaluated by flow cytometry. Patients with ED and LOH or ED alone had significantly higher blood pressure, triglycerides, homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance, cavernous artery acceleration time, and intima-media thickness than controls, whereas International Index of Erectile Function score, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and cavernous artery peak systolic velocity and resistance index were lower than those of controls. Both EPCs and EMPs were significantly higher in patients with ED and LOH compared with patients with ED alone or controls. Patients with ED alone had EPCs and EMPs significantly higher than controls. In conclusion, patients with ED and LOH showed worse metabolic parameters and cavernous artery parameters, measured by dynamic penile echo color Doppler, and higher EPCs and EMPs compared with patients with ED alone. This suggests that LOH is an additional vascular risk factor and that EPCs and EMPs may be considered predictors of endothelial dysfunction in patients with ED and LOH.
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology, Andrology and Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Systemic Diseases, University of Catania, Policlinico "G. Rodolico," via S. Sofia 78, Building 4, Room 2C19, 95123 Catania, Italy. sandrolavignera@email.it
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Vignera
authors.forename: Rosita A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Condorelli
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Agata
authors.forename: Aldo E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Calogero
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells; D005058:Eunuchism / Q000097:blood*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers