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Impaired endothelial progenitor cell function predicts age-dependent carotid intimal thickening

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Abstract

Objectives

We investigated whether qualitative or quantitative alterations of the endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) pool predict age-related structural vessel wall changes.

Background

We have previously shown that age-related endothelial dysfunction is accompanied by qualitative rather than quantitative changes of EPCs. Animal studies suggest that impaired EPC functions lead to accelerated arterial intimal thickening.

Methods

Intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured in the common carotid artery in our previously published groups of younger (25 ± 1 years, n = 20) and older (61 ± 2 years, n = 20) healthy non-smoking volunteers without arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs, KDR+/CD34+ and KDR+/CD133+) were counted in peripheral blood using flow cytometry. In ex vivo expanded EPCs, the function was determined as chemotaxis to VEGF, proliferation, and survival.

Results

We observed thicker IMT in older as compared to younger subjects (0.68 ± 0.03 mm Vs. 0.48 ± 0.02 mm, P < 0.001). Importantly, there were significant inverse univariate correlations between IMT, EPC chemotaxis, and survival (r = −0.466 P < 0.05; r = −0.463, P < 0.01). No correlation was observed with numbers of circulating EPCs. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that age, mean arterial pressure and migration of EPCs were independent predictors of IMT (R 2 = 0.58).

Conclusion

Impaired EPC function may lead to accelerated vascular remodeling due to chronic impairment of endothelial maintenance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Clinic I, Dept. of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Vascular Medicine, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Stefanie Keymel MD, Tienush Rassaf MD, Malte Kelm MD, FESC & Christian Heiss MD

  2. Dept. of Vascular Medicine, Swiss Cardiovascular Center, Inselspital, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland

    Christoph Kalka MD

  3. Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Yerem Yeghiazarians MD, FACC

Authors
  1. Stefanie Keymel MD
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  2. Christoph Kalka MD
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  3. Tienush Rassaf MD
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  4. Yerem Yeghiazarians MD, FACC
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  5. Malte Kelm MD, FESC
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  6. Christian Heiss MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christian Heiss MD.

Additional information

Returned for 1. Revision: 13 December 2007 1. Revision received: 16 June 2008

Returned for 2. Revision: 20 June 2008 2. Revision received: 17 July 2008

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Keymel, S., Kalka, C., Rassaf, T. et al. Impaired endothelial progenitor cell function predicts age-dependent carotid intimal thickening. Basic Res Cardiol 103, 582–586 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-008-0742-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-008-0742-z

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