title: Higher numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in stroke patients with intracranial arterial stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone marrow-derived endothelial stem cells participate in vascular repairs. Numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) are associated with atherosclerosis. Fibrinogen plays a key role in atherosclerosis. Objective was to assess if cEPC counts were associated with atherosclerotic intracranial artery stenosis (IAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred subjects (108 patients with stroke and IAS (IAS), 120 control patients with stroke without IAS (CP), and 72 healthy controls (HC)) were retrospectively analyzed. cEPCs were identified and counted by flow cytometry using CD34, CD133 and KDR. Plasma fibrinogen was measured by immunoturbidimetry. cEPC counts were compared between the three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  cEPC numbers were significantly higher in IAS (0.059 ± 0.031%) than in CP (0.026 ± 0.012%) (P < 0.001) and HC (0.021 ± 0.011%) (P < 0.001), but without difference between CP and HC (P = 0.401). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that cEPC levels (OR 3.31, 95%CI 1.26-8.87, P = 0.025; IAS vs. CP) were independent markers of IAS after adjustment for hypertension, diabetes and smoking. No significant correlation between cEPC counts and plasma fibrinogen levels was observed (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  cEPC numbers were associated with degrees of IAS. This measurement may be useful for non-invasive evaluation of atherosclerotic IAS.
authors.forename: Zhizhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiurong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Ruimin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuetao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Guojun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Laboratory Diagnosis, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China. KangXixiongmedsci@163.com.
authors.forename: Xixiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020765:Intracranial Arterial Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*