title: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in premature infants: is there an association with premature birth complications?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most common morbidities in preterm infants are associated with vascular pathology. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been implicated in repair of the vasculature, but their role in the pathogenesis of prematurity complications is not clear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We prospectively investigated an association between the number of EPCs circulating in blood during delivery as well as 2 and 6 weeks afterwards, the level of growth factors regulating their migration/homing, and the incidence of premature birth complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study groups consisted of 90 preterm and 52 full-term infants. Early-EPCs (CD133+CD34+CD144+) and late-EPCs (CD133-CD34+CD144+) were analysed in cord blood (CB) and peripheral blood (PB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found higher early- and late-EPC counts in the CB of premature infants compared with full-term babies. The number of circulating early- and late-EPCs was inversely associated with the Apgar score of preterm infants. A positive association between the early-EPC count and the risk of respiratory distress syndrome, retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and infections was found. Nevertheless, multivariate analysis revealed that a higher number of EPCs was not an independent predictor of prematurity complications, which were directly related to lower gestational age. The EPC count in full-term infants maintained a constant, relatively low level over the 6-week follow-up, whereas the EPC population in preterm infants gradually decreased during this period. Furthermore, the number of CB late-EPCs in preterm infants positively correlated with VEGF concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPCs may play a considerable role in vascular development in preterm infants.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Safranow
authors: Maciej
authors: M
authors: Kotowski
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Lewandowska
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Machalińska
authors: Violetta
authors: V
authors: Dziedziejko
authors: Ryszard
authors: R
authors: Czajka
authors: Zbigniew
authors: Z
authors: Celewicz
authors: Jacek
authors: J
authors: Rudnicki
authors: Bogusław
authors: B
authors: Machaliński
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000097:blood; D002452:Cell Count; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000097:blood; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A