title: Inverse correlation between circulating endothelial progenitor cells with CD34+CD133+ and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis assessed by Syntax score.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) descends when atherosclerosis developed. The objective was to compare the number of CD34(+)CD133(+) cells with the severity of atherosclerosis assessed by Syntax score.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 80 patients with stable angina undergoing coronary angiography. Patients were classified into single-vessel group, multiple-vessel group and normal group according to angiography. The percentage of CD34(+)CD133(+) cells in the mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood of different groups by flow cytometric analysis was compared. The quantity of CD34(+)CD133(+) EPCs was log transformed to improve normality (lgEPC). Syntax score was used in this study to assess the extent of coronary artery disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of lgEPC was lower in the single-vessel group than that in the normal group (-3.42 ± 0.44 versus -3.17 ± 0.39, P < 0.05), and the level of lgEPC was lower in the multiple-vessel group than that in the single vessel group (-3.63 ± 0.31 versus -3.42 ± 0.44, P < 0.05). An inverse correlation between lgEPC and Syntax score analyzed by linear regression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPC level probably serves as a predictor of the development and severity of atherosclerosis on a cellular level. EPC, a relatively more important risk factor, perhaps protects against coronary artery disease.
authors: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Chi
authors: Xiaojian
authors: X
authors: Hong
authors: Yuehong
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Jinjun
authors: J
authors: Zhao
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides