Endothelial progenitor cells as a cardiometabolic risk factor marker in prediabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have recently been considered as a potential novel marker of vascular integrity, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. This study was performed to investigate the main determinants of EPC levels in individuals with prediabetes.


METHODS
Thirty-nine participants with newly diagnosed prediabetes were enrolled. Flow cytometric analysis was used to quantify EPCs (CD34+CD133+VEGFR-2+). Traditional risk factors, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and anthropometric parameters, including ultrasonographic-determined visceral and subcutaneous fat, were recorded.


RESULTS
In univariate analysis, EPC levels significantly correlated with waist circumference (p=0.017), mean arterial pressure (p=0.009), total cholesterol (p=0.003), hs-CRP (p=0.006), HOMA-IR (p=0.031) and visceral fat (p=0.040). However, in stepwise multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis, only visceral fat retained its statistical significance (OR=0.79, 95%Cl:0.64-0.98, p=0.032).


CONCLUSIONS
Visceral fat seems to be the main determinant of EPC levels in individuals with prediabetes and to form a plausible link between mild metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular risk and vascular homeostasis process.
Diabetes Center, "Tzaneio" General Hospital of Piraeus; Greece.
Angeliki
A
Angelidi
Diabetes Center, "Tzaneio" General Hospital of Piraeus; Greece.
Andreas
A
Melidonis
Diabetes Center, "Tzaneio" General Hospital of Piraeus; Greece.
Ioannis
I
Protopsaltis
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Athens University Medical School, Athens; Greece.
Theodoros N
TN
Sergentanis
Department of Pathology, Locus-Medicus SA, Athens; Greece.
Angelos
A
Gritzapis
EDepartment of Radiology, "Tzaneio" General Hospital of Piraeus; Greece.
Ioannis
I
Kornezos
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens; Greece.
Theofanis
T
Economopoulos
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens; Greece.
Georget
G
Dimitriadis
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens; Greece.
Eleni
E
Boutati
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens; Hellenic National Center for Research, Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus and its Complications (H.N.D.C.), Athens; Greece.
Sotirios A
SA
Raptis
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000097:blood; D062186:Arterial Pressure; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D002784:Cholesterol; C000588866:KDR protein, human; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2