Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells After Kidney Transplantation

• Published in: American journal of transplantation Vol. 5; no. 9; pp. 2154 - 2159
• Main Authors: Soler, María José, Martínez‐Estrada, Ofelia María, Puig‐Marí, Josep Maria, Marco‐Feliu, Didac, Oliveras, Anna, Vila, Joan, Mir, Marisa, Orfila, Antonia, Vilaró, Senén, Lloveras, Josep
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Munksgaard International Publishers 01.09.2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: AC133 Antigen; Adult; Antigens, CD - biosynthesis; Antigens, CD34 - biosynthesis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Body Weight; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology; Cardiovascular risk; Cardiovascular System - pathology; Cell Proliferation; Endothelial Cells - cytology; endothelial progenitor cells; Female; Flow Cytometry; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Glycoproteins - biosynthesis; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - pharmacology; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Kidney Transplantation; Leukocyte Common Antigens - biosynthesis; Linear Models; Lipoproteins, HDL - metabolism; Lipoproteins, LDL - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neutrophils - metabolism; Peptides; Regression Analysis; Sex Factors; Stem Cells - cytology; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the urinary system; Time Factors; Endothelial cell; Stem cell; Homograft; Cardiovascular disease; Homotransplantation; Kidney; Vascular disease; Treatment; Urinary system; Surgery; endothelial progenitor cells; Atherosclerosis; Risk factor; Cardiovascular risk; Graft; Progenitor cell; Kidney transplantation
• ISSN: 1600-6135; 1600-6143
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2005.01010.x

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) promote vascular repair and maintain integrity of the endothelial monolayer. Reduced EPCs number has been associated with endothelial dysfunction in various cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular disease risk is higher in renal transplant patients (RT) than the general population. We studied EPCs number and proliferation in RT, and examined the association with other cardiovascular risk factors such as reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and LDL cholesterol. EPCs concentration was determined in 94 RT and 39 control subjects (C) by flow cytometry. EPCs proliferation was also studied after 7 days in culture. EPCs concentration was significantly reduced in RT versus C (median 33.5 [5–177] vs. 53 [9–257] EPCs/105 PMN cells, p = 0.006). EPCs proliferation was also reduced in RT versus C (mean ± SD; 372.7 ± 229.3 vs. 539.8 ± 291.3 EPCs × field, p = 0.003). In multiple regression analysis, GFR, HDL, LDL and body weight were independent predictors of EPCs concentration in RT (r2= 0.25, p < 0.001). EPCs number is reduced in RT, particularly in patients with reduced GFR. Moreover, EPCs from RT studied in vitro, showed reduced proliferation, which is a sign of functional impairment. These alterations may be involved in increased cardiovascular risk of RT.