title: Influence of Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil on late endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood of COPD patients with pulmonary artery hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of Fasudil, a Rho inhibitor on the number and functions of the late endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) patients with pulmonary artery hypertension.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  It is not clear yet, whether Rho Kinase Inhibitor Fasudil can reduced pulmonary artery pressure through improving lung endothelial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  80 COPD patients with pulmonary artery hypertension were selected and divided into two groups: the treatment group and the control group, which had 40 patients, respectively. Changes in the number and function of the late endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood of the patients before and after the treatment were compared between the two groups. The changes on the pulmonary artery pressure were also compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of the late endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood of the treatment group increased and the function was enhanced. The pulmonary artery pressure was reduced. The difference before and after the treatment and with the control group was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Rho-kinase inhibitor Fasudil increased the number and enhanced the function of the late endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood of COPD patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (Tab. 3, Fig. 2, Ref. 17).
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Liu
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Zhang
authors: Y J
authors: YJ
authors: Tang
authors: C F
authors: CF
authors: Sheng
authors: J X
authors: JX
authors: Liu
authors: Y J
authors: YJ
authors: Zeng
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; C049347:fasudil
keywords: Rho kinase inhibitor Fasudil; chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases; endothelial progenitor cells.; pulmonary artery hypertension