title: Circulating progenitor cells and vascular dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), decreased progenitor cells and impairment of systemic vascular function have been suggested to confer higher cardiovascular risk. The origin of these changes and their relationship with alterations in the pulmonary circulation are unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether changes in the number of circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells are associated with pulmonary hypertension or changes in endothelial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  62 COPD patients and 35 controls (18 non-smokers and 17 smokers) without cardiovascular risk factors other than cigarette smoking were studied. The number of circulating progenitors was measured as CD45(+)CD34(+)CD133(+) labeled cells by flow cytometry. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilation. Markers of inflammation and angiogenesis were also measured in all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls, the number of circulating progenitor cells was reduced in COPD patients. Progenitor cells did not differ between control smokers and non-smokers. COPD patients with pulmonary hypertension showed greater number of progenitor cells than those without pulmonary hypertension. Systemic endothelial function was worse in both control smokers and COPD patients. Interleukin-6, fibrinogen, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, vascular endothelial growth factor and tumor necrosis factor were increased in COPD. In COPD patients, the number of circulating progenitor cells was inversely related to the flow-mediated dilation of systemic arteries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulmonary and systemic vascular impairment in COPD is associated with cigarette smoking but not with the reduced number of circulating hematopoietic progenitors. The latter appears to be a consequence of the disease itself not related to smoking habit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pizarro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jéssica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Lucio
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Víctor I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Peinado
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tura-Ceide
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sitges
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytometry, Institut de Recerca, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petriz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Torralba
authors.affiliation: Department of Cryopreservervation, Hospital Clínic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan Albert
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barberà
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens