title: Changes and function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with cerebral aneurysm.
abstract: Endothelial dysfunction is a trigger for the formation of cerebral aneurysm (CA). The circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) plays an important role in postnatal vasculogenesis and reduction of endothelial injury. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that decreased number and impaired function of circulating EPCs correlate with CA formation in patients. Blood circulating EPCs were identified by flow cytometry. The level of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was measured by ELISA. Circulating EPCs from patients (n = 27) were cultured in vitro, and the function of EPCs was evaluated by cell migration and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity. The number of circulating EPCs was significantly decreased in both unruptured and ruptured CA patients compared with healthy control subjects. Impaired migratory capacity and elevated cellular senescence of cultured EPCs were observed in patients with CA (ruptured and unruptured). The percentages of EPC senescence in patients with CAs were significantly and negatively correlated with the number of circulating EPCs. In addition, there were higher levels of plasma VEGF in CA patients compared with healthy control subjects. Our results show that the numbers and functions of circulating EPCs are reduced in patients with CAs. These findings suggest that the decreased number and impaired function of circulating EPCs in CA patients may contribute to the pathophysiological process of aneurysm formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Huijie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jieli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rongcai
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Yimu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chopp
authors.forename: Jingfei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Jianning
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A