Background: Endothelial progenitor cells derived from bone marrow are believed to support the integrity of the vascular endothelium. The number and function of endothelial progenitor cells correlate inversely with cardiovascular risk factors, but the prognostic value associated with circulating endothelial progenitor cells has not been defined.
Methods: The number of endothelial progenitor cells positive for CD34 and kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) was determined with the use of flow cytometry in 519 patients with coronary artery disease as confirmed on angiography. After 12 months, we evaluated the association between baseline levels of endothelial progenitor cells and death from cardiovascular causes, the occurrence of a first major cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction, hospitalization, revascularization, or death from cardiovascular causes), revascularization, hospitalization, and death from all causes.
Results: A total of 43 participants died, 23 from cardiovascular causes. A first major cardiovascular event occurred in 214 patients. The cumulative event-free survival rate increased stepwise across three increasing baseline levels of endothelial progenitor cells in an analysis of death from cardiovascular causes, a first major cardiovascular event, revascularization, and hospitalization. After adjustment for age, sex, vascular risk factors, and other relevant variables, increased levels of endothelial progenitor cells were associated with a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular causes (hazard ratio, 0.31; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.16 to 0.63; P=0.001), a first major cardiovascular event (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.62 to 0.89; P=0.002), revascularization (hazard ratio, 0.77; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.62 to 0.95; P=0.02), and hospitalization (hazard ratio, 0.76; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.63 to 0.94; P=0.01). Endothelial progenitor-cell levels were not predictive of myocardial infarction or of death from all causes.
Conclusions: The level of circulating CD34+KDR+ endothelial progenitor cells predicts the occurrence of cardiovascular events and death from cardiovascular causes and may help to identify patients at increased cardiovascular risk.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa043814 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The Effect of Cryopreservation on the Bone Healing Capacity of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in a Bone Defect Model.
J Orthop Res
January 2025
Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Unity Health Toronto (St. Michael's Hospital), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have proven to be a highly effective cell therapy for critical-sized bone defects. Cryopreservation can enable long-term storage of EPCs, allowing their immediate availability on demand. This study compares the therapeutic potential of EPCs before and after cryopreservation in a small animal critical-sized bone defect model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndothelial Colony-Forming Cells (ECFCs) in Cerebrovascular Aging: Focus on the Pathogenesis of Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID), and Treatment Prospects.
Ageing Res Rev
January 2025
Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Dept. of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral College, Health Sciences Program/Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Electronic address:
Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs), a unique endothelial progenitor subset, are essential for vascular integrity and repair, providing significant regenerative potential. Recent studies highlight their role in cerebrovascular aging, particularly in the pathogenesis of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Aging disrupts ECFC functionality through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and cellular senescence, leading to compromised vascular repair and reduced neurovascular resilience.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCirculating endothelial progenitor cells and inflammatory markers in type 1 diabetes after an acute session of aerobic exercise.
Arch Endocrinol Metab
January 2025
Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia para Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre Porto AlegreRS Brasil Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia para Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde (IATS) - CNPq/Brasil, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
Objective: To determine circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) counts and levels of inflammatory markers in individuals with and without type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in response to an intense aerobic exercise session.
Subjects And Methods: In total, 15 adult men with T1DM and 15 healthy individuals underwent a 30-minute aerobic exercise session on a cycle ergometer at 60% of the peak heart rate. The EPC count (CD45/CD34/KDR), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured before and 60 minutes after the session.
Activation of Wnt/β-catenin in neural progenitor cells regulates blood-brain barrier development and promotes neuroinflammation.
Sci Rep
January 2025
School of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
The central nervous system (CNS) requires specialized blood vessels to support neural function within specific microenvironments. During neurovascular development, endothelial Wnt/β-catenin signaling is required for BBB development within the brain parenchyma, whereas fenestrated blood vessels that lack BBB properties do not require Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Here, we used zebrafish to further characterize this phenotypic heterogeneity of the CNS vasculature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFConversion of placental hemogenic endothelial cells to hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.
Cell Discov
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are critical for the treatment of blood diseases in clinic. However, the limited source of HSPCs severely hinders their clinical application. In the embryo, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) arise from hemogenic endothelial (HE) cells lining the major arteries in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!