Decreased pre-surgical CD34+/CD144+ cell number in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting compared to coronary artery disease-free valvular patients

Santiago Redondo,Fernando Reguillo,Álvaro González-Rocafort,Christian Weber,Jorge Navarro-Dorado,Marta Ramajo,Mihail Hristov,Antonio Gordillo-Moscoso,Teresa Tejerina,Manuel Carnero,Jose Martinez-Gonzalez,Enrique Rodríguez

doi:10.1186/1749-8090-7-2

Abstract

BackgroundCardiovascular disease has been linked to endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) depletion and functional impairment in atherosclerosis and aortic stenosis. EPCs may play a pivotal role in vascular grafting. However, the EPC depletion in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients has not been compared to coronary artery disease-free valvular replacement patients with aortic stenosis.MethodsWe aimed to assess the basal number of CD34+/KDR+ and CD34+/CD144+ cells in CABG patients, compared to aortic stenosis valvular replacement patients. 100 patients (51 CABG and 49 valvular surgery ones) were included in the present study. All CABG or valvular patients had angiographic demonstration of the presence or the absence of coronary artery disease, respectively. Numbers of CD34+/KDR+ and CD34+/CD144+ were assessed by flow cytometry of pre-surgical blood samples.ResultsWe found a lower number of CD34+/CD144+ cells in CABG patients compared to valvular patients (0.21 ± 0.03% vs. 0.47 ± 0.08%), and this difference remained statistically significant after the P was adjusted for multiple comparisons (P = 0.01428). Both groups had more EPCs than healthy controls.ConclusionsPre-surgical CD34+/CD144+ numbers are decreased in CABG patients, compared to valvular patients with absence of coronary disease.

Highlights

Cardiovascular disease has been linked to endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) depletion and functional impairment in atherosclerosis and aortic stenosis
Clinical and laboratory profile of the patients Following the recruitment protocol stated in Methods, 54 patients operated for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and 53 patients operated for aortic stenosis valvular replacement surgery were enrolled for the present study
Our results show a lower basal number of CD34+/CD144+ cells in the pre-surgical blood of patients who underwent CABG surgery compared to aortic stenosis valvular replacement patients (Figure 3, panel B)

Summary

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease has been linked to endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) depletion and functional impairment in atherosclerosis and aortic stenosis. The EPC depletion in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients has not been compared to coronary artery disease-free valvular replacement patients with aortic stenosis. Results: We found a lower number of CD34+/CD144+ cells in CABG patients compared to valvular patients (0.21 ± 0.03% vs 0.47 ± 0.08%), and this difference remained statistically significant after the P was adjusted for multiple comparisons (P = 0.01428). Both groups had more EPCs than healthy controls. EPCs originate in the bone marrow and migrate in response to ischemic stimuli, especially stromal-derived factor (SDF-1) [4]; they differentiate towards the endothelial lineage or support local angiogenesis by resident endothelial cells. Lower CD34+/CD144+ numbers have been described in atherosclerotic patients, as well as the role of statins to differentiate CD34+/KDR+ to CD34+/CD144+ [7]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion