title: The relationship between oxidised LDL, endothelial progenitor cells and coronary endothelial function in patients with CHD.
abstract: The balance between coronary endothelial dysfunction and repair is influenced by many protective and deleterious factors circulating in the blood. We studied the relationship between oxidised low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and coronary endothelial function in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD).
  
  
  
  33 patients with stable CHD were studied. Plasma oxLDL was measured using ELISA, coronary endothelial function was assessed using intracoronary acetylcholine infusion and EPCs were quantified using flow cytometry for CD34(+)/KDR(+) cells.
  
  
  
  Plasma oxLDL correlated positively with the number of EPCs in the blood (r=0.46, p=0.02). There was a positive correlation between the number of circulating EPCs and coronary endothelial function (r=0.42, p=0.04). There was no significant correlation between oxLDL and coronary endothelial function.
  
  
  
  Plasma levels of oxLDL are associated with increased circulating EPCs in the blood of patients with CHD, which may reflect a host-repair response to endothelial injury. Patients with stable CHD had a high prevalence of coronary endothelial dysfunction, which was associated with lower numbers of circulating EPCs, suggesting a mechanistic link between endothelial dysfunction and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
authors: West of Scotland Regional Heart & Lung Centre, Golden Jubilee National Hospital , Glasgow , UK.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Watt
authors: Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow , UK.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Kennedy
authors: Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow , UK.
authors: Nadeem
authors: N
authors: Ahmed
authors: Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow , UK.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Hayhurst
authors: West of Scotland Regional Heart & Lung Centre, Golden Jubilee National Hospital , Glasgow , UK.
authors: John D
authors: JD
authors: McClure
authors: West of Scotland Regional Heart & Lung Centre, Golden Jubilee National Hospital , Glasgow , UK.
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: Berry
authors: Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde , Glasgow , UK.
authors: Roger M
authors: RM
authors: Wadsworth
authors: West of Scotland Regional Heart & Lung Centre, Golden Jubilee National Hospital , Glasgow , UK.
authors: Keith G
authors: KG
authors: Oldroyd
keywords: CORONARY PHYSIOLOGY