Number and Function of Endothelial Progenitor Cells as a Marker of Severity for Diabetic Vasculopathy

Abstract

Objective— Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a threatening complication of diabetes. As endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are involved in neovasculogenesis and maintenance of vascular homeostasis, their impairment may have a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic vasculopathy. This study aimed to establish whether number and function of EPCs correlate with PAD severity in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods and Results— EPCs were defined by the expression of CD34, CD133 and KDR, and quantified by flow cytometry in 127 diabetic patients with and without PAD. PAD severity has been assessed as carotid atherosclerosis and clinical stage of leg atherosclerosis obliterans. Diabetic patients with PAD displayed a significant 53% reduction in circulating EPCs versus non-PAD patients, and EPC levels were negatively correlated with the degree of carotid stenosis and the stage of leg claudication. Moreover, the clonogenic and adhesion capacity of cultured EPCs were significantly lower in diabetic patients with PAD v... Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been implicated in adult neovasculogenesis and maintenance of endothelial homeostasis. In this study, we provide evidence that number and function of EPCs correlate with severity of peripheral atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients.