Association of circulating progenitor cells with angiotensin II in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients

• Published in: Journal of human hypertension Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 46 - 53
• Main Authors: Skrzypkowska, Maria W., Ryba-Stanisławowska, Monika E., Słomiński, Bartosz, Gutknecht, Piotr G., Siebert, Janusz, Myśliwska, Jolanta M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.01.2018; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/443/1338/243; 631/443/592/75; Aged; Angiotensin; Angiotensin II; Angiotensin II - blood; Antigens, CD34 - metabolism; c-Kit protein; Cardiovascular diseases; Case-Control Studies; CD34 antigen; Development and progression; Endothelial Progenitor Cells - metabolism; Endothelium; Epidemiology; Female; Flow cytometry; Glycoproteins; Health Administration; Health aspects; Hemopoiesis; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - blood; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Peripheral blood; Physiological aspects; Progenitor cells; Public Health; Serum levels; Stem cells; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 - metabolism; Poland
• ISSN: 0950-9240; 1476-5527; 1476-5527
• DOI: 10.1038/s41371-017-0020-3

Populations of CD34− and VEGFR2-expressing cells are responsible for regeneration of damaged endothelium and vascular remodelling. As their quantity and activity changes during cardiovascular diseases, they are potentially useful markers of cardiovascular health. The aim of our study was to investigate changes of various CD34+ and CD34+ VEGFR2+ populations in subjects with newly recognised hypertension and to evaluate whether observed alterations are influenced by clinical parameters and angiotensin II. Circulating CD34+ and CD34+ VEGFR2+ cells were analysed in peripheral blood samples by flow cytometry. Serum levels of angiotensin II were determined using immunoenzymatic assay. We discovered increased proportions of various CD34+ populations and CD34+ VEGFR2+ c-Kit+ cells in newly diagnosed patients. CD34+ cells seem to be influenced by angiotensin II, but we did not observe comparable results when populations co-expressing VEGFR2 were analysed. The quantity of CD34+ VEGFR2+ cells in patients with newly recognised primary hypertension ought to be determined by other factors. Increased proportions of CD34+ progenitors in blood could comprise compensatory mechanism for increased endothelial damage in hypertension.