Mok MY, Yiu KH, Wong CY, Qiuwaxi J, Lai WH, Wong WS, Tse HF, Lau CS. Low circulating level of CD133+KDR+cells in patients with systemic sclerosis.
Clin Exp Rheumatol 2010;
28:S19-S25. [PMID:
21050541]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2010] [Accepted: 07/07/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Results of previous studies on the level of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which are involved in vascular repair, in scleroderma (SSc) patients have been controversial.
OBJECTIVES
To enumerate circulating EPC subsets and to examine their relation with endothelial dysfunction, biochemical markers of endothelial injury and vascular outcome in SSc patients.
METHODS
Enumeration of circulating CD34+KDR+ and CD133+ KDR+EPCs was performed by flow cytometry. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was evaluated by changes in flow-mediated dilation (FMD%) in the brachial artery. Serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS
SSc patients (n=52) were found to have significantly lower CD133+KDR+EPCs (3.0 vs. 7.0/μl, p<0.001) as well as FMD% (4.8% vs. 7.8%, p<0.001) compared with age and sex-matched controls (n=52). Among patients who had no concomitant cardiovascular risk factors (n=28), CD133+KDR+ EPC level was significantly lower than controls (3.8 vs. 7.3/μl, p=0.001) and correlated modestly with FMD% (r=0.29, p=0.03). Disease duration was the only determining factor identified for circulating CD133+KDR+ EPCs (p=0.03) by logistic regression analysis. Levels of serum VEGF (p=0.92) and KDR expression were not different between patients who had early and intermediate/late disease. Circulating CD34+KDR+ EPCs was not different between SSc patients and controls and did not correlate with any clinical or biochemical parameter.
CONCLUSIONS
Lower circulating CD133 +KDR+ EPC subset was found in SSc patients and correlated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients without cardiovascular risk factors suggesting a potential role of deficient EPC recruitment contributing to endothelial dysfunction in this disease.
Collapse