ABSTRACT
Abstract Background: The effects of chronic exposure to exercise training on vascular biomarkers have been poorly explored. Objective: Our study aimed to compare the amounts of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), and endothelial (EMP) and platelet (PMP) microparticles between professional runners and healthy controls. Methods: Twenty-five half-marathon runners and 24 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were included in the study. EPCs (CD34+/KDR+, CD133+/KDR+, and CD34+/CD133+), EMP (CD51+) and PMP (CD42+/CD31+) were quantified by flow-cytometry. All blood samples were obtained after 12 h of fasting and the athletes were encouraged to perform their routine exercises on the day before. Results: As compared with controls, the CD34+/KDR+ EPCs (p=0.038) and CD133+/KDR+ EPCs (p=0.018) were increased, whereas CD34+/CD133+ EPCs were not different (p=0.51) in athletes. In addition, there was no difference in MPs levels between the groups. Conclusion: Chronic exposure to exercise in professional runners was associated with higher percentage of EPCs. Taking into account the similar number of MPs in athletes and controls, the study suggests a favorable effect of exercise on these vascular biomarkers.
Resumo Fundamento: Os efeitos da exposição crônica ao exercício sobre biomarcadores vasculares foram pouco estudados. Objetivo: Nosso estudo teve como objetivo comparar as quantidades de células progenitoras endoteliais (CPEs), e de micropartículas endoteliais (MPEs) e plequetárias (MPPs) de corredores profissionais com controles sadios. Métodos: Vinte e cinco corredores de meia maratona e 24 controles pareados quanto à idade e ao sexo foram incluídos no estudo. CPEs (CD34+/KDR+, CD133+/KDR+ e CD34+/CD133+), MPE (CD51+) e MPPs (CD42+/CD31+) foram quantificadas por citometria de fluxo. Todas as amostras de sangue foram obtidas após 12 horas de jejum, e os atletas foram incentivados a realizar seus exercícios de rotina no dia anterior à coleta. Resultados: Em comparação aos controles, CPEs CD34+/KDR+ (p=0,038) e CD133+/KDR+ (p=0,018) estavam aumentados, e CPEs CD34+/CD133+ não foram diferentes (p=0,51) nos atletas. As concentrações de MP não diferiram entre os grupos. Conclusão: A exposição crônica ao exercício em corredores profissionais associou-se a uma maior porcentagem de CPEs. Considerando o número similar de MPs entre atletas e controles, o estudo sugere um efeito favorável do exercício sobre esses biomarcadores vasculares.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Running/physiology , Blood Platelets/physiology , Cell-Derived Microparticles/physiology , Athletes , Endothelial Progenitor Cells/physiology , Reference Values , Spirometry , Time Factors , Biomarkers/blood , Statistics, Nonparametric , Antigens, CD34/blood , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/blood , Exercise Test , Flow Cytometry , AC133 Antigen/bloodABSTRACT
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a heterologous population of bone marrowderived cells that play a key role in maintaining homeostasis of the endothelium, as they home to areas of endothelial injury, replace damaged endothelium, and participate in neovascularisation. The relationship between EPCs number and the severity of atherosclerosis is still a matter of debate. Abnormalities in EPCs have been associated with coronary artery disease, as experimental investigations have shown that a decrease in the endogenous pool of EPCs may accelerate the course of atherosclerosis, and the number of EPCs has been reported to be reduced in patients with atherosclerosis and in apparently healthy subjects without overt disease. On the opposite, other studies have found that the number of EPCs in the blood is increased in patients with angiographically significant coronary artery disease. The potential exists that EPCs constitute a therapeutic target, because persistent stimulation of EPCs by pharmacological intervention may, at least theoretically, repair endothelial injury and prevent the progression of atherosclerosis in patients at risk. Indeed, experimental and clinical studies have revealed that the number of EPCs can be increased by several pharmacological interventions such as hormones, statins, recombinant human EPO, and blockage of the angiotensin converting enzyme system. This review addresses the clinical correlates and prognostic significance of EPCs in a large cohort of patients with coronary artery disease that has been evaluated at a single Academic center in Italy.