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Circulating endothelial progenitor cell numbers are not associated with donor organ age or allograft vasculopathy in cardiac transplant recipients

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Honey Thomas, Professor John Dark, Professor Helen ArthurORCiD, Professor Bernard Keavney

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Abstract

Introduction: Increasing age is associated with reduced numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). It is unclear whether this relates to depletion or impairment of bone marrow progenitors, or to deficient mobilization signals from aging tissues. In cardiac transplant patients, one previous study has reported an association between circulating EPCs and the risk of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). We investigated whether increased donor heart age, a strong risk factor for CAV, was associated with reduced circulating EPC numbers in a group of cardiac transplant recipients matched for factors which influence EPC numbers, but with maximally discordant donor heart ages. Methods: We identified 32 patient pairs, matched for factors known to influence EPC numbers, but who had discordant donor heart ages by at least 20 years. EPCs were quantified using flow cytometry for absolute counts of cells expressing all the combinations of CD45, CD34, CD133 and the kinase domain receptor (KDR). Results: There were no significant differences in the numbers of circulating EPCs between patients with old or young donor heart age. There was no association between the presence of CAV and circulating EPC numbers. Conclusions: We suggest that the increased susceptibility to CAV of older donor hearts is not mediated via circulating EPCs. Our results are consistent with the theory that the normal age-related decline in EPC numbers relates to bone marrow aging rather than failure of target tissues to induce EPC mobilization. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Thomas HE, Parry G, Dark JH, Arthur HM, Keavney BD

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Atherosclerosis

Year: 2009

Volume: 202

Issue: 2

Pages: 612-616

ISSN (print): 0021-9150

ISSN (electronic): 1879-1484

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2008.05.020

DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2008.05.020


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