Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells, C-Reactive Protein and Severity of Coronary Stenosis in Chinese Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

• Published in: Hypertension research Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 133 - 141
• Main Authors: Wang, Hai-Ya, Gao, Ping-Jin, Ji, Kai-Da, Shen, Wei-Feng, Fan, Chun-Ling, Lu, Lin, Zhu, Ding-Liang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.02.2007
• Subjects: Aged; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Cell Adhesion; Cell Count; Cell Movement; China; Coronary Artery Disease - blood; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnosis; Coronary Stenosis - blood; Coronary Stenosis - diagnosis; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Endothelial Cells - pathology; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Stem Cells - drug effects; Stem Cells - pathology; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - pharmacology; China
• DOI: 10.1291/hypres.30.133
• ISSN: 0916-9636

We sought to investigate whether numbers and activity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) correlate with severity of coronary stenosis as well as cardiovascular risk factors in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Number of circulating EPCs was analyzed in 104 consecutive patients with proven or clinically suspected CAD. Adhesive and migratory activity was also determined. The number of EPCs was lower in patients with a single diseased coronary artery (Group II, n=35, p<0.05 vs. Group I) or multiple diseased arteries (Group III, n=25, p<0.01 vs. Group I, p<0.05 vs. Group II) compared to those with normal coronary arteries (Group I, n=44). The number of EPCs was also related with angiographic Gensini score (r=-0.355, p=0.006). In addition, concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) were elevated in patients with CAD, and positively correlated with Gensini score (r=0.476, p=0.001). As for the risk factors, the number of EPCs was also inversely correlated with age (p=0.001), high sensitivity-CRP (p=0.012), hypertension (p=0.042) and family history of CAD (p=0.043). Most importantly, the migratory capacity of EPCs was compromised in patients with CAD, and inversely correlated with the angiographic Gensini score (r=-0.315, p=0.021). EPCs isolated from patients with CAD also showed an impaired adhesive activity (p<0.05). In conclusion, in patients with stable CAD, reduction in the number and impairment in the function of circulating EPCs were correlated with the severity of coronary stenosis. CRP may play an important role in reducing the number of EPCs and accelerating atherosclerosis. Given the important role of EPCs in neovascularization of ischemic tissue, a decrease in the number and activity of EPCs may contribute to the impaired vascularization in patients with CAD.