title: The acute impact of high-dose lipid-lowering treatment on endothelial progenitor cells in patients with coronary artery disease-The REMEDY-EPC early substudy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a role in vascular repair, while circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are biomarkers of vascular damage and regeneration. Statins may promote EPC/CEC mobilization in the peripheral blood. We evaluated whether pre-procedural exposure to different lipid-lowering drugs (statins±ezetimibe) can acutely increase levels/activity of EPCs/CECs in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a planned sub-analysis of the Rosuvastatin For REduction Of Myocardial DamagE During Coronary AngioplastY (REMEDY) trial, 38 patients with stable CAD on chronic low-dose statin therapy were randomized, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, into 4 groups before PCI: i. placebo (n = 11); ii. atorvastatin (80 mg+40 mg, n = 9); iii. rosuvastatin (40 mg twice, n = 9); and iv. rosuvastatin (5 mg) and ezetimibe (10 mg) twice, (n = 9). At baseline and 24 h after treatment-before PCI-, patients underwent blinded analyses of EPCs [colony forming units-endothelial cells (CFU-ECs), endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) and tubulization activity] and CECs in peripheral blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no significant treatment effects on parameters investigated such as number of CECs [Median (IQR): i. 0(0), ii. 4.5(27), iii. 1.9(2.3), iv. 1.9(2.3)], CFU-ECs [Median (IQR): i. 27(11), ii. 19(31), iii. 47(36), iv. 30(98)], and ECFCs [Median (IQR): i. 86(84), ii. 7(84), iii. 8/(42.5), iv. 5(2)], as well as tubulization activity [total tubuli (well), Median (IQR): i. 19(7), ii. 5(4), iii. 25(13), iv. 15(24)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we found no evidence of acute changes in levels or activity of EPCs and CECs after high-dose lipid-lowering therapy in stable CAD patients.
authors.affiliation: Center of Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine - CESI-MeT, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.|Institute of Cardiology, Department of Neurosciences, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosalinda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madonna
authors.affiliation: Center of Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine - CESI-MeT, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca Vera
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Renna
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Department of Neurosciences, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lanuti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Department of Neurosciences, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perfetti
authors.affiliation: Center of Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine - CESI.MeT, Chieti, Italy.|Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchisio
authors.affiliation: Clinica Mediterranea, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Briguori
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gerolama
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Condorelli
authors.affiliation: Center of Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine - CESI-MeT, Chieti, Italy.|Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.|Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Regional Healthcare Agency of Abruzzo, Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Lamberto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manzoli
authors.affiliation: Center of Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine - CESI-MeT, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.|Institute of Cardiology, Department of Neurosciences, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1637-574X
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Caterina
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000069438:Ezetimibe / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D000069438:Ezetimibe