scholarly journals External Counterpulsation Attenuates Hypertensive Vascular Injury Through Enhancing the Function of Endothelial Progenitor Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianwen Liang ◽  
Jian Shi ◽  
Wenbin Wei ◽  
Guifu Wu

BackgroundVascular injury is a landmark of hypertension and enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) has been identified as a noninvasive treatment to restore the capacity of endothelial cells. However, the effect of EECP on blood pressure lowering in hypertension and the potential mechanism remain unknown.MethodsWe measured the ambulatory blood pressure (AMBP) and flow-mediated endothelial dilation (FMD) in the essential hypertensive patients who were randomly assigned to the EECP group (n = 20) or control group (n = 20). We also evaluated in vitro function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Furthermore, multivariate analysis was performed to determine the actual correlation between EPC function and FMD.ResultsCompared with the control, EECP group exhibited decreased systolic [(133.2 ± 4.9) mmHg vs. (139.3 ± 6.4) mmHg, P < 0.05] and diastolic [(83.4 ± 4.5) mmHg vs. (89.5 ± 7.6) mmHg, P < 0.05] blood pressure and increased FMD value [(8.87 ± 2.46%) vs. (7.51 ± 2.32%), P < 0.01]. In addition, the migration [(47.3 ± 6.4)/hpf vs. (33.4 ± 5.1) hpf, P < 0.05] and adhesion [(45.1 ± 5.5)/hpf vs. (28.4 ± 3.9) hpf, P < 0.05] functions of EPCs in the EECP group were improved significantly, whereas no change was observed in the control. Both migration [odds ratio (OR) = 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.27–0.64, P < 0.05] and adhesion (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = −0.0034 to 0.0012, P < 0.05) of EPCs correlated with FMD. After multivariate analysis, the migration (β = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.67–5.33, P < 0.05) and adhesion (β = 3.98, 95% CI = 1.12–6.43, P < 0.05) functions still independently correlated to FMD.ConclusionThe present study demonstrates for the first time that EECP decreases both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and increases FMD value in hypertension. The fall in endogenous EPCs repair capacity might be an important mechanism of hypertensive vascular injury and could be restored by EECP.

Author(s):  
T. Bulduk ◽  
A. U. Yalcin ◽  
O. M. Akay ◽  
S. G. Ozkurt ◽  
H. U. Teke ◽  
...  

Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The most common cause of anemia in CKD is erythropoietin deficiency; and the most important cause of mortality in CKD patients is atherosclerotic vascular complications which are associated with endothelial damage. One of the methods evaluating vascular integrity is the cytometric measurement of circulating endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood. The study aimed to investigate the effects of erythropoietin therapy on endothelial dysfunction by evaluating circulating endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood using the technique of flow cytometry. Methods. A total of 55 hemodialysis patients were evaluated in three groups; those having erythropoietin therapy for at least last 3 months (n = 20) / not having erythropoietin for at least the last 3 months (n = 20) and the patients who started erythropoietin treatment during the study (n = 5). The control group consisted of 20 people. Blood values of the 3rd Group were investigated three times as baseline, 2nd week and 8th week CD34 +, CD105 + cells were evaluated as activated circulating endothelial cells; CD133 +, CD146 + cells were evaluated as activated endothelial progenitor cells. Results. There was no difference between the patients and healthy individuals in terms of circulating endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells. In the third group, no differences were observed in circulating endothelial cells / endothelial progenitor cell levels at baseline / 2nd and 8th weeks. There was no correlation between erythropoietin and circulating endothelial cells / endothelial progenitor cells. Conclusion. A correlation is not available between the therapeutic doses of erythropoietin used in hemodialysis patients and circulating endothelial cells / endothelial progenitor cell levels; supratherapeutic doses could change the results.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo F Leite ◽  
Claudia R Andrade ◽  
Santa Poppe ◽  
Luiz A Cesar ◽  
Silmara Coimbra ◽  
...  

Underlying mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in obesity are not fully understood. Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) are known to promote endothelial repair. Our aim was to assess the number/function of EPCs in morbid obese individuals and its correlation with endothelial function and inflammatory markers. EPCs were isolated from 33 morbid obese patients (age 47±1.8 y; men=34%; BMI=49±2.1 kg/m 2 , metabolic syndrome=84%) and 20 lean controls. Peripheral blood EPC number was significantly reduced in obese patients both with flow cytometry (KDR + /CD34 + ; 0.041±0.04 vs 0.074±0.05 %events, p<0.001) and fluorescence analysis after short-term culture (49±4 vs 28±2 cells/field, p<0.001). The plasma number of primitive CD 133 + cells, and concentrations of VEGF (Elisa) and nitrogen oxides (which potentially recruit EPCs), were similar to control, suggesting that reduction of EPCs occurs distally to early cell differentiation. Importantly, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), robustly increased in obese patients (0.15±0.04 vs 1.3±0.3; p=0.003), was a strong predictor of reduced EPC number at multivariate analysis (r=0.623; p < 0.001). Likewise, the migratory response of EPCs to VEGF in vitro was significantly impaired in obese vs controls, despite similar VEGF receptor numbers. Multivariate analysis suggested potential roles of metabolic syndrome and leptin in such effect. Endothelial function at flow-mediated brachial artery reactivity was markedly reduced (by 60%) in obese patients, and had a significant inverse correlation with EPC number (r= 0.678; p< 0.001). Carotid intimal thickness was also increased in obese patients (0.68±0.02 vs 0.58±0.08; p=0.001). On the other hand, the number of circulating endothelial cells (CD31 + /CD106 + ) was similar in both groups, suggesting that apoptosis was not enhanced in the obese. These results suggest for the first time that reduced number and migratory capacity of EPCs correlate with endothelial dysfunction or increased CRP and may be a key underlying mechanism of vascular complications and atherosclerosis in obesity.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun-Chen Lin ◽  
Han-Tan Chai ◽  
Kuan-Hung Chen ◽  
Pei‐Hsun Sung ◽  
John Y. Chiang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: This study tested the optimal time point for left intra-carotid arterial (LICA) administration of circulatory-derived autologous endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) for improving the outcome in rat after acute ischemic stroke (IS). Methods and Results: Adult-male SD rats (n=70) were equally categorized into group 1 (sham-operated control), group 2 (IS), group 3 (IS+EPCs/1.2x106 cells/by LICA administration 3h after IS), group 4 (IS+EPCs/LICA administration post-day-3 IS), group 5 (IS+EPCs/LICA administration post-day-7 IS), group 6 (IS+EPCs/LICA administration post-day-14 IS) and group 7 (IS+EPCs/LICA administration post-day-28 IS). The brain-infarct volume (BIV) (at day 60/MRI) was lowest in group 1, highest in group 2 and significantly progressively increased from groups 3 to 7, whereas among the IS animals, the neurological function was significantly preserved in groups 3 to 6 than in groups 2 and 7 post-day-60 IS (all p<0.0001). By day 60, the endothelial cell markers at protein and cellular levels, and number of small vessels exhibited an opposite pattern of BIV among the groups (all p<0.0001). The protein and cellular levels of inflammation, and protein levels of oxidative stress, autophagy and apoptosis, were highest in group 2, lowest in group 1 and progressively increased from groups 3 to 7 (all p<0.0001). The angiogenesis biomarkers at protein and cellular levels were significantly progressively increased from groups 1 to 3, then significantly progressively decreased from groups 4 to 7 (all p<0.0001). Conclusion: Early EPC administration provided better benefits on improving functional/image/molecular-cellular outcomes after acute IS in rat.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Long Peng ◽  
Qianlin Gu ◽  
Zhenhua Huang ◽  
Lijin Zeng ◽  
Chang Chu ◽  
...  

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) induced endothelial dysfunction is associated with disturbance in circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Nevertheless, whether this unfavorable effect of HHcy on circulating EPCs also exists in premenopausal women is still unknown. Therefore, this leaves an area for the investigation of the difference on the number and activity of circulating EPCs in premenopausal women with hyperhomocysteinemia and its underlying mechanism. The number of circulating EPCs was measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis, as well as DiI-acLDL and lectin fluorescent staining. The migration and proliferation of circulating were evaluated by the Transwell chamber assay and MTT. Additionally, the endothelial function and levels of nitric oxide (NO), VEGF, and GM-CSF in plasma and culture medium were determined. The number or activity of circulating EPCs and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in premenopausal women with or without HHcy were higher than those in postmenopausal women. However, no significant effect of HHcy on the number or activity of circulating EPCs in premenopausal women was observed. A similar alteration in NO level between the four groups was observed. There was a correlation between FMD and the number or activity of EPCs, as well as NO level in plasma or secretion by EPCs. For the first time, our findings illuminated the quantitive or qualitative alterations of circulating EPCs and endothelial function in premenopausal patients with HHcy are preserved, which was associated with retained NO production. The recuperated endothelial repair capacity is possibly the potential mechanism interpreting cardiovascular protection in premenopausal women with HHcy.


Hypertension ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 1389-1397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Giannotti ◽  
Carola Doerries ◽  
Pavani S. Mocharla ◽  
Maja F. Mueller ◽  
Ferdinand H. Bahlmann ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1501000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Zhang ◽  
Guohua Han ◽  
Pei Gao ◽  
Kun Qiao ◽  
Yusheng Ren ◽  
...  

For this study, peripheral blood samples were collected from human volunteers. Mononuclear cells (MNC) were separated by density centrifugation and were induced to differentiate into endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in vitro. Different concentrations of rapamycin and silymarin were introduced to the EPCs over 24 hours and then EPCs were analyzed for proliferation, migration, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Compared with the control group, rapamycin (1, 10, 100 ng/mL) inhibited the proliferation and migration of EPCs in a concentration dependent manner ( P<0.05). Silymarin (50, 100 μg/mL) enhanced the proliferation and migration of EPCs and inhibited apoptosis in a concentration dependent manner ( P<0.05). By adding rapamycin (1 ng/mL) and silymarin (25, 50, 100 μg/mL) over 24 hours, silymarin inhibited the pro-apoptotic effect of rapamycin on EPCs, and reversed the inhibition of proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of EPCs by rapamycin ( P<0.05).


2013 ◽  
pp. 14-9
Author(s):  
Wiwit Nurwidyaningtyas ◽  
Djanggan Sargowo ◽  
Achdiat Agoes ◽  
Titin Andri W ◽  
S Satuman

Research background. Circulating Endothelial Cells (CEC) is a reflection of endothelial damage or endothelial stress, increasing of CEC amount depend on endothelial mechanism, edothelial adhesivity damage and cellular apoptosis as a result of decreasing sitoskleleton function. If higher exposure affects the increasing of CEC amount,VEGF other growth factor mediators will be reflected as endothelial stress manifestation which roles in the increasing of re-population and Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPC) differentiation. Endothelial Progenitor Cells is a mononuclear cell (a part of stem cell) that could change to be mature endothel and roles in re-edothelialisation and neovascularisation. This research aimed to investigate the ratio of EPC : CEC in risk group through Framingham Risk Score (FRS) 10 years approach as endothelial dysfunction predictor.Research method and result. There were 55 research subjects whom taken by FRS scoring and devided into some risk groups and two control groups. They were control group I (health) and control group II (sick). Base blood was taken to every each of them to analyze their EPC and CEC with Flowcytometry. EPC was analyzed by CD34 Per CP Santa Cruz SC-19621 and CD 133 FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) Bioss bs-0395R-FITCmarker.WhileCEC was analyzed CD45 FITC Biolegend 202205 dan CD 146 PE Biolegend 134704 marker. Result showed, there was significant ratio differences of EPC : CEC in those six groups which was proven by p-value 0.032< ? (0.05). The higher ratio was in high risk group (139.06).Conclusion. Research showed that EPC amount was increase related to the increasing of high risk level according to FRS 10 years, but its increasing did not followed by its ability to homing in injury area as role part in re-endothelialisation process. It found that EPC amount was higher in high risk group than in low risk group.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 2248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Wiśniewski ◽  
Joanna Boinska ◽  
Katarzyna Ziołkowska ◽  
Adam Lemanowicz ◽  
Karolina Filipska ◽  
...  

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with acute stroke due to cerebral microangiopathy and evaluate whether there is a relationship between their number and clinical status, radiological findings, risk factors, selected biochemical parameters, and prognosis, both in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Methods: In total, 66 patients with lacunar ischemic stroke, 38 patients with typical location hemorrhagic stroke, and 22 subjects from the control group without acute cerebrovascular incidents were included in the prospective observational study. The number of EPCs was determined in serum on the first and eighth day after stroke onset using flow cytometry and identified with the immune-phenotype classification determinant (CD)45−, CD34+, CD133+. Results: We demonstrated a significantly higher number of EPCs on the first day of stroke compared to the control group (med. 17.75 cells/µL (0–488 cells/µL) vs. 5.24 cells/µL (0–95 cells/µL); p = 0.0006). We did not find a relationship between the number of EPCs in the acute phase of stroke and the biochemical parameters, vascular risk factors, or clinical condition. In females, the higher number of EPCs on the first day of stroke is related to a favorable functional outcome on the eighth day after the stroke onset compared to males (p = 0.0355). We found that a higher volume of the hemorrhagic focus on the first day was correlated with a lower number of EPCs on the first day (correlation coefficient (R) = −0.3378, p = 0.0471), and a higher number of EPCs on the first day of the hemorrhagic stroke was correlated with a lower degree of regression of the hemorrhagic focus (R = −0.3896, p = 0.0367). Conclusion: The study showed that endothelial progenitor cells are an early marker in acute microangiopathy-associated stroke regardless of etiology and may affect the radiological findings in hemorrhagic stroke. Nevertheless, their prognostic value remains doubtful in stroke patients.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document