title: Endothelial progenitor cell levels in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients: effects of anti-inflammatory therapies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), similarly to other arthritides, can be associated with damage of endothelial layer of which structure and function is dependent on reparative properties of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). To date, it remained unknown whether EPC numbers are altered in young JIA patients and whether on-going anti-inflammatory therapies could exert positive effects on these progenitor cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a quantitative analysis of EPC numbers in 25 patients diagnosed with JIA according to International League of Associations for Rheumatism (ILAR) criteria [age 11.50 (7.50-15.00) years] in a broad context of inflammatory and cardiovascular parameters as well as different types of anti-inflammatory treatments. 11 healthy children [age 13.00 (11.00-14.00) years] were recruited as a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated that EPC numbers were similar in JIA patients and control subjects (0.02% vs. 0.05%, respectively, p = 0.37). EPC levels in JIA patients were negatively correlated with index of insulin resistance (rho = -0.458, p = 0.021), endogenous insulin (rho = -0.472, p = 0.017), triglyceride (rho = -0.438, p = 0.029) and TNF-alpha levels (rho = -0.446, p = 0.026). Notably, glucocorticoid (GC) therapy, was associated with detection of decreased EPC levels in JIA patients (p = 0.023). In contrast, methothrexate (MTX) and etanercept therapy in JIA patients did not affect EPC levels (p = 0.92 and p = 0.08, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that EPC numbers are maintained at normal levels in JIA patients and are not enhanced by disease-specific anti-inflammatory treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematological Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-274 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rusak
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Radzikowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Division, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-274 Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glowinska-Olszewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Disorders, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-274 Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dobrenko
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Disorders, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-274 Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piotrowska-Jastrzebska
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematological Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-274 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dabrowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bodzenta-Lukaszyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Division, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-274 Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bossowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland ; Department of Allergology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moniuszko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D000068800:Etanercept; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: Anti-inflammatory therapies; Cardiovascular risk factors; Endothelial progenitor cells; Juvenile idiopathic arthritis