title: CD34+/CD144+ circulating endothelial cells as an indicator of carotid atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationships between the number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) or endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and indicators of carotid atherosclerosis, such as the intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque score are not well characterized in patients with chronic ischemic stroke. The objective of this study was to investigate these relationships in patients with chronic ischemic stroke and in patients with risk factors for stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 58 patients (69.6 ± 10.0 years, 21 females) with chronic ischemic stroke or with risk factors for stroke were included in this study. IMT was measured using an IntimaScope, and the numbers of CECs and EPCs were measured using flow cytometry. CECs and EPCs were defined as CD34+/CD144+ and CD34+/CD133+ cells, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of CECs in patients with large artery atherosclerosis was higher than that in patients with cardioembolism or small vessel occlusion (P < .05). In contrast, there were no significant differences in the number of EPCs between groups. A positive correlation was also observed between the plaque score and the number of CECs (r(2) = .139, P < .05, n = 36). Moreover, the number of CECs in patients with moderate and severe atherosclerosis (.32 ± .11/μL, n = 22) was higher than that in patients with no plaque and mild atherosclerosis (.25 ± .07/μL, n = 34, P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of CECs was high in patients with large artery atherosclerosis who experienced chronic ischemic stroke. And this number may reflect severity of carotid atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan; Department of Neurology, Chugoku Rosai Hospital, Kure, Japan.
authors.forename: Takamichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan. Electronic address: nhosomi@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Naohisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nezu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ochi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chugoku Rosai Hospital, Kure, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.affiliation: Stroke Center, Kindai University Hospital, Osaka-Sayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohtsuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000097:blood*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002452:Cell Count; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D000099152:Cadherin 5
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; D015820:Cadherins; D000099152:Cadherin 5
keywords: Atherosclerosis; carotid intima-media thickness; carotid ultrasound; circulating endothelial cells; circulating endothelial progenitor cells