title: Relationship between endothelial progenitor cells and vascular endothelial growth factor and its variation with exercise.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of programmed physical activity and a single exercise test on the number of CD309+ circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) and their relation to the variation in plasma levels of VEGF in chronic coronary patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  21 patients <75 years with chronic stable coronary artery disease were included. All patients underwent exercise myocardial perfusion SPECT. Then, participants were divided into two groups: one group (11 patients) underwent cardiac rehabilitation program and the other (10 patients) continued with the standard treatment. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 30 min after exercise ended and at one and three months during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF values decreased significantly after exercise SPECT test. After one month, there was a significant increase in VEGF levels compared to those measured immediately after exercise. All patients showed a decrease in the values of EPC at 1 and 3-month follow-up. There was an inverse and statistically significant relation between change of EPC and VEGF between the baseline and 1 month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase of VEGF at 1-month, with respect to baseline values correlated with decreased levels of EPC. This association was independent of the onset of ischemia in the perfusion study.
authors.affiliation: Researcher of Ministry of Health, Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: jgagliardi@intramed.net.
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
authors.affiliation: División Cardiología, Hospital General de Agudos Dr. Cosme Argerich. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Neiva
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.affiliation: División Cardiología, Hospital General de Agudos Dr. Cosme Argerich. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.affiliation: División Cardiología, Hospital General de Agudos Dr. Cosme Argerich. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Masoli
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Lípidos y Lipoproteínas del Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miksztowicz
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Lípidos y Lipoproteínas del Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas "Mariano R. Castex" de la Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Emilse
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bermejo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas "Mariano R. Castex" de la Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazzari
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ricardo J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gelpi
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000368:Aged; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Coronary artery disease; Exercise; Progenitor cells; VEGF levels