title: Changes of Number and Function of Late Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Peripheral Blood of COPD Patients Combined with Pulmonary Hypertension.
abstract: Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the changes of number and function of late endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in peripheral blood of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients combined with pulmonary hypertension. Subjects and Methods The study enrolled 120 cases including 40 non-COPD and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients (non-COPD group), 40 COPD non-PAH patients (COPD group), and 40 COPD patients combined with PAH (COPD + PAH group). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were separated by density gradient centrifugation, cultured for 21 days, and then identified as late endothelial progenitor cells. The cell colonies were counted. MTT assay, modified Boyden chamber assay, and human fibronectin plates were used to measure the proliferation, migration, and adhesion functions of the late endothelial progenitor cells, respectively. Results Compared with non-COPD and COPD groups, the number of peripheral blood late EPCs in COPD + PAH group was significantly reduced, and the proliferation, adhesion, and migration capacities were significantly lowered; the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The number and function of late EPCs decreased with the increase of pulmonary artery pressure (p < 0.05). Conclusion The number of late EPCs in COPD patients combined with pulmonary hypertension was reduced, which implies the impaired cell functions. The changes of number and function were negatively correlated with the severity of pulmonary hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Unit, Taihe Hospital of Hubei Medical University, Shiyan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Taihe Hospital of Hubei Medical University, Shiyan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound Imaging, Taihe Hospital of Hubei Medical University, Shiyan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Unit, Taihe Hospital of Hubei Medical University, Shiyan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Chunfeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Mechanics, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Linlin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Mechanics, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers