Evaluation of the circulating CD34(+), CD309(+), and endothelial progenitor cells in patients with first attack of optic neuritis

Impact of CD34/CD309 expression in circulating endothelial progenitor cells on prognosis and response to bortezomib therapy in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a prevalent yet incurable hematologic malignancy. Despite the proven efficacy of proteasome inhibitors in treating MM, resistance to Bortezomib-based treatments persists in a subset of patients. This case control study explores the potential of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) as biomarkers for predicting response to Proteasome Inhibitor based therapy combined with Dexamethasone in MM patients. This study was conducted on 105 MM patients receiving bortezomib plus dexamethasone therapy and 90 healthy individuals as a control group. Utilizing 8-color multi-parameter flow cytometry, we assessed the levels of circulating EPCs, identified through CD34 FITC and CD309 PE markers at diagnosis and after one treatment cycle (4 weeks). Our findings revealed that patients exhibiting poor response to therapy showed significantly higher CD34/CD309 values than those with a good response (p < 0.001). The delineation of response based on CD34/CD309 expression was established with a cutoff ≤ 0.9 for percentage (yielding 100% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity) and ≤ 12.5 for absolute value (also with 100% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity). These results underscore the potential of EPC population levels, as quantified by CD34/CD309, to serve as a predictive biomarker for immunomodulatory treatment in MM patients undergoing Proteasome Inhibitor and Dexamethasone therapy.

Evaluation of Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

Background and Objectives

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) participate in vascular repair and predict cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between EPCs and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

Methods and Results

Patients (age 67±9.41 years) suffering from AAAs (aortic diameters 58.09±11.24 mm) were prospectively enrolled in this study. All patients received endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Blood samples were taken preoperatively and 14 days after surgery from patients with aortic aneurysms. Samples were also obtained from age-matched control subjects. Circulating EPCs were defined as those cells that were double positive for CD34 and CD309. Rat models of AAA formation were generated by the peri-adventitial elastase application of either saline solution (control; n=10), or porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE; n=14). The aortas were analyzed using an ultrasonic video system and immunohistochemistry. The levels of CD34^＋/CD309^＋ cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell populations were measured by flow cytometry. The baseline numbers of circulating EPCs (CD34^＋/CD309^＋) in the peripheral blood were significantly smaller in AAA patients compared with control subjects. The number of EPCs doubled by the 14th day after EVAR. A total of 78.57% of rats in the PPE group (11/14) formed AAAs (dilation ratio >150%). The numbers of EPCs from defined AAA rats were significantly decreased compared with the control group.

Conclusions

EPC levels may be useful for monitoring abdominal aorta aneurysms and rise after EVAR in patients with aortic aneurysms, and might contribute to the rapid endothelialization of vessels.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide attenuates tumor necrosis factor-α-induced apoptosis in endothelial colony-forming cells

Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) are important in angiogenesis and vascular proliferation. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a significant risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and a key proinflammatory cytokine known to induce apoptosis in endothelial cells. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is one of the members of the vasoactive intestinal peptide/secretin/growth hormone-releasing hormone/glucagon superfamily and exists in two biological active forms, PACAP 38 and PACAP 27. PACAP has been reported to help prevent endothelial apoptosis via an anti-inflammatory mechanism. However, to the best of our knowledge, the anti-apoptotic potential of PACAP has not been investigated in ECFCs. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the efficacy of PACAP for decreasing TNF-α-induced apoptosis in ECFCs. The results indicated that PACAP exerts a cytoprotective effect on ECFCs exposed to TNF-α. Furthermore, PACAP partially rescues the proliferation potential of ECFCs inhibited by prolonged TNF-α exposure. These findings support an anti-inflammatory role for PACAP in circulation diseases.