Circulating Endothelial Cells Expressing the Angiogenic Transcription Factor Krüppel-Like Factor 4 are Decreased in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Objective: The zinc finger transcription factor KLF4 is known to control diverse EC functions.

Methods: The functional role of KLF4 for angiogenesis and its association with CAD was examined in HUVECs and human CECs.

Results: In two different angiogenesis assays, siRNA-mediated KLF4 downregulation impaired HUVEC sprouting and network formation.

In vitro and in vivo effects of human monocytes and their subsets on new vessel formation.

Objective: Human monocytes can be divided into CD16(-) monocytes and CD16(+) monocytes. Studies in mice suggested differential effects of monocyte subsets during new vessel formation.

Methods: The functional role of human monocyte subsets in neovascularization processes was investigated.

Increased proatherogenic monocyte-platelet cross-talk in monocyte subpopulations of patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Background: Monocytes and platelets are important cellular mediators of atherosclerosis. Human monocytes can be divided into CD14(++) CD16(-) , CD14(++) CD16(+) and CD14(+) CD16(++) cells, which differ in their functional properties. The aim of this study was to examine monocyte subset distribution, monocyte-platelet aggregate (MPA) formation and expression of CCR5, the receptor of the platelet-derived chemokine CCL5, and to determine whether these parameters are altered in individuals with coronary atherosclerosis.