Rheumatology Advance Access published online on July 26, 2008
Rheumatology, doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ken286
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Systemic lupus erythematosus patients exhibit functional deficiencies of endothelial progenitor cells
1Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Rheumatology, 2Department of Medical and Chemical Laboratory, 3Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and 4Cluster for Rheumatology, Balneology and Rehabilitation, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rheumatology and Balneology, Vienna, Austria.
Correspondence to:
J. Grisar, Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Rheumatology, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. E-mail: johannes.grisar{at}meduniwien.ac.at
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Abstract |
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Objective. SLE is characterized by an increased cardiovascular risk. Since endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been described to serve as a biomarker for the CV risk and are known to be depleted in various diseases, we were interested if SLE would also be associated with altered peripheral EPC levels or functional abnormalities of these cells.
Methods. EPCs were quantified in 31 female SLE patients with different disease activity and in age-matched healthy controls (HCs) by FACS analysis and by colony forming unit (CFU) assay. Furthermore, EPC adhesion and migration capacity were tested.
Results. EPC levels were similar in HC and SLE when assessed by FACS (0.045 ± 0.006% vs 0.036 ± 0.007% within the lymphocyte gate) and by the CFU assay (18 ± 3 vs 15 ± 2 colonies/well). No correlation with disease activity could be observed, but SLE patients treated with chloroquine exhibited significantly decreased EPC levels (0.058 ± 0.005% without vs 0.024 ± 0.008% with chloroquine, P < 0.05). Addition of chloroquine to in vitro cultures also led to a decreased colony formation in SLE and in HC. When testing the adhesion and migration capacity of EPC on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), cells from SLE patients had reduced adhesion (19.2 ± 3.5% vs 36.6 ± 5.2% EPC/high power field, P < 0.02) and migratory activity (56 ± 6 cells/random microscopic field in SLE vs 121 ± 28 in controls, P < 0.02).
Conclusion. The data reveal that EPCs are significantly affected in SLE. While circulating EPC levels are in the range of HC, they exhibit functional deficiencies that may lead to impaired tissue availability.
KEY WORDS: Systemic lupus erythematosus, Endothelial progenitor cells, Cardiovascular risk, Chloroquine, Transmigration
Submitted 14 February 2008;
revised version accepted 20 June 2008.
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  P. E. Westerweel, R. H. W. M. Derksen, and M. C. Verhaar Comment on: Systemic lupus erythematosus patients exhibit functional deficiencies of endothelial progenitor cells Rheumatology, April 1, 2009; 48(4): 453 - 453. [Full Text] [PDF]
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J. Grisar, J. S. Smolen, and on behalf of the authors Comment on: Systemic lupus erythematosus patients exhibit functional deficiencies of endothelial progenitor cells: reply Rheumatology, April 1, 2009; 48(4): 453 - 454. [Full Text] [PDF]
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