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Improvement in Endothelial Progenitor Cells from Peripheral Blood by Ramipril Therapy in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease

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Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate whether angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) therapy with ramipril could augment circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) with enhanced functional activity in patients with stable coronary artery diseases.

Methods and results: 20 patients with angiographically documented stable coronary artery disease (CAD) were prospectively treated with 5 mg of ramipril per day for 4 weeks. Before and weekly after the initiation of ramipril therapy, EPCs were isolated from peripheral blood and counted. Ramipril treatment of patients with stable CAD was associated with an approximately 1.5-fold increase in the number of circulating EPCs by 1 week after initiation of treatment; this was followed by sustained increased levels to approximately 2.5-fold throughout the 4-week study period. In addition, ramipril treatmen was associated with increases in the functional activity of EPCs, as assessed by their proliferation, migration, adhesion and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity.

Conclusion: The results of the present study define a novel mechanism of action of ACEI treatment in patients with stable CAD: the augmentation of circulating EPCs with enhanced functional activity. Given the well-established role of EPCs of participating in repair after ischemic injury, stimulation of EPCs by ACEI may contribute to the clinical benefit of ACEI therapy in patients with CAD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, China

    Tao Qian Min, Chen Jun Zhu, Wang Xing Xiang, Zhu Jun Hui & Shang Yun Peng

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  1. Tao Qian Min
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  2. Chen Jun Zhu
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  3. Wang Xing Xiang
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  4. Zhu Jun Hui
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  5. Shang Yun Peng
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Min, T.Q., Zhu, C.J., Xiang, W.X. et al. Improvement in Endothelial Progenitor Cells from Peripheral Blood by Ramipril Therapy in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 18, 203–209 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CARD.0000033641.33503.bd

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CARD.0000033641.33503.bd

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