title: Telomere/telomerase system impairment in circulating angiogenic cells of geriatric patients with heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The functional characteristics of circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) are impaired in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients, suggesting that CAC dysfunction could contribute to CHF pathogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms are only partly unraveled. No data are currently available regarding telomere/telomerase system in CACs of CHF patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  CACs were obtained from 80 subjects: 40 healthy control subjects (CTR) [median age (IQR), 80 (76-85 yrs)] and 40 patients affected by post-ischemic cardiomyopathy CHF [median age (IQR), 82 (77-89)]. CAC and leukocyte telomere length, assessed as T/S ratio, and telomerase (TERT) activity were determined in all the enrolled subjects. Specificity and sensitivity of CAC and leukocyte T/S in discriminating between CHF and CTR were evaluated using Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and reported as AUC values. CD34+/VEGFR2+ number and pro-inflammatory cytokines plasma levels, such as IL-6 and TNF-α, were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CAC T/S and TERT activity were significantly reduced in CHF patients compared to CTR subjects. In leukocytes, only a significant T/S reduction was observed. AUC values were higher for CAC T/S with respect to leukocyte T/S (AUC=0.89, and AUC=0.73, P<0.01, respectively). In multivariate analysis, leukocyte T/S, CAC T/S, CAC TERT activity and NT-proBNP levels were confirmed as parameters significantly associated with CHF. CD34+/VEGFR2+ number, IL-6 and TNF-α plasma levels were significantly increased in CHF patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CACs from CHF patients are characterized by telomere/telomerase system impairment, providing new insight into the clinical relevance of CACs in CHF pathogenesis.
authors: Department of Molecular Pathology and Innovative Therapies, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy. f.olivieri@univpm.it
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Olivieri
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Antonicelli
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Recchioni
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Mariotti
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Marcheselli
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Spazzafumo
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Galeazzi
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Caraceni
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Testa
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Latini
authors: A D
authors: AD
authors: Procopio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002477:Cells; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019098:Telomerase / Q000502:physiology*; D016615:Telomere / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019098:Telomerase