title: Alterations of circulating endothelial cell and endothelial progenitor cell counts around the ovulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and progenitor cells (CEPs) have been intensively studied as a promising tool for treating ischemic diseases and monitoring cancer treatments, but how the menstrual cycle affects the variation in their counts remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of the study were to determine the influence of the menstrual cycle on the number of CECs and CEPs and to investigate the association of their counts with circulating hormones and angiogenesis-associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  CEP and CEC counts by flow cytometry and the CellSearch system and circulating factor levels were measured eight times during the menstrual cycle in 18 volunteers. The menstrual cycle was divided into six phases based on hormone concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CEP counts peaked in the periovulatory and middle luteal phases with a drop in the early luteal phase. CEC counts showed no significant variation. There were significant correlations between the CEP counts and the serum concentrations of estradiol (E2), LH, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.01, respectively). The difference in CEP counts between two adjacent phases was significantly correlated with that in E2, LH, G-CSF, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P = 0.02, and P = 0.006, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CEP counts peaked in the periovulatory and middle luteal phases, with a drop in the early luteal phase, and were correlated with serum E2, LH, and G-CSF concentrations. Consideration of the variation in CEP counts would be important for the clinical application of CEPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (Breast Surgery), Kyoto University, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Sunao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Yoshitsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chigusa
authors.forename: Nobuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi-Sakita
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.forename: Noriyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teramukai
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D002452:Cell Count; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010060:Ovulation / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone