title: Platelets and circulating CD34-positive cells as an indicator of the activity of the vicious cycle between hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in elderly Japanese men.
abstract: The bi-directional association between hypertension and endothelial dysfunction (vicious cycle) is crucial for the development of cardiovascular disease. Since platelets and circulating CD34-positive cells have been reported to contribute to vascular repair (endothelial repair and the development of atherosclerosis), these two factors could act as an indicator for the activity of this vicious cycle.
  
  
  
  We conducted a cross-sectional study of 580 Japanese men aged 60-69 years who underwent an annual health check-up. Since aggressive endothelial repair might cause consumptive reduction of circulating CD34-positive cells, subjects were stratified by circulating CD34-positive count (<1.01 cells/μL or ≥ 1.01 cells/μL).
  
  
  
  Platelet count is positively associated with hypertension among participants with a low CD34-positive cell count (multivariable-OR (odds ratio) for hypertension of 1 standard deviation (SD) increments in platelets (5.24 × 104/μL) = 1.47 (1.12, 1.91)), but not among participants with a high CD34-positive cell count (multivariable-OR = 0.91 (0.71, 1.18)). We also found that platelet count is positively associated with carotid intima-media thickness related to endothelial dysfunction among hypertensive participants with a low CD34-positive cell count (standardized parameter estimate (β) = 0.26, p = 0.008), but not with a high CD34-positive cell count (β = 0.11, p = 0.234).
  
  
  
  Our results indicate that the number of platelets and circulating CD34-positive cells acts as an indicator of the activity of the vicious cycle that exists between hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in elderly Japanese men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan; Department of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Osaka Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: shimizuyuji@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Research and Clinical Center for Yusho and Dioxin, Kyusyu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shimpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Island and Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koyamatsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Island and Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotomo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamanashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Mako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagayoshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kadota
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-Ya
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kawashiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Center for Comprehensive Community Care Education, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan; Department of Island and Community Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maeda
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D007564:Japan; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010976:Platelet Count; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: CD34-Positive cell; Endothelial dysfunction; Hypertension; Platelet; Vicious cycle