Functional impairment of hematopoietic progenitor cells in patients with coronary heart disease

• Published in: European journal of haematology 2008-03, Vol.80 (3), p.258-264
• Main Authors: Liguori, Antonio, Fiorito, Carmela, Balestrieri, Maria Luisa, Crimi, Ettore, Bruzzese, Giuseppe, Williams-Ignarro, Sharon, D'Amora, Maurizio, Sommese, Linda, Grimaldi, Vincenzo, Minucci, Pellegrino Biagio, Giovane, Alfonso, Farzati, Bartolomeo, Ignarro, Louis J., Napoli, Claudio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bone Marrow Cells - pathology; Cell Movement - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Colony-Forming Units Assay; Coronary Disease - blood; Coronary Disease - pathology; coronary heart disease; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - pathology; Humans; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; progenitor cells; stem cells; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - physiology
• ISSN: 0902-4441; 1600-0609
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0609.2007.01007.x

The circulating form of endothelial progenitors cells (EPCs) are derivated from bone marrow (BM)‐derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Enhanced mobilization of EPCs was shown to be linked to cardiac diseases. This study investigated whether reduced EPC levels in advanced coronary heart disease (CHD) are secondary to a functional exhaustion of HSCs in the BM or to reduced mobilization. Number and functional properties of EPCs were assessed in 15 healthy controls, and 40 patients with CHD. The colony‐forming unit (CFU) capacity of BM‐derived mononuclear cells and the CD34+ HSC number were examined in four healthy volunteers, and 15 CHD patients. EPC number was reduced in CHD patients (P