The association between baseline circulating progenitor cells and vascular function: The role of aging and risk factors

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Kasra Moazzami, Emory University; Anurag Mehta, Emory University; An Young, Emory University; Devinder Singh Dhindsa, Emory University; Gregory Martin, Emory University; Ali Mokhtari, Emory University; Iraj Ghaini Hesaroieh, Emory University; Amit Shah, Emory University; James Bremner, Emory University; Viola Vaccarino, Emory University; Edmund Waller, Emory University; Arshed Quyyumi, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-09-05
• Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2022.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1358863X221116411
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: VASCULAR MEDICINE
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 6
• Start Page: 532
• End Page: 541
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the NIH through the following grants: P01 HL101398, R01 HL109413, R01HL109413–02S1, R01HL 125246, K24HL077506, K24 MH076955, UL1TR000454, KL2T R000455, K23HL127251, and T32HL130025.
• Keywords: CROSS-SECTIONAL RELATIONS; Science & Technology; ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION; AORTIC STIFFNESS; vascular biology; Cardiovascular System & Cardiology; stem cells; Peripheral Vascular Disease; PULSE-WAVE VELOCITY; reactive hyperemia index (RHI); ARTERIAL STIFFNESS; PROGNOSTIC VALUE; PREDICTS CARDIOVASCULAR MORTALITY; pulse wave velocity; INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR; aging; HEART-FAILURE; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; DIASTOLIC FUNCTION; microvascular function

Abstract

Background: To investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between vascular function and circulating progenitor cell (CPC) counts with respect to aging and exposure to risk factors. Methods: In 797 adult participants, CPCs were enumerated by flow cytometry as CD45med mononuclear cells expressing CD34 epitope and its subsets co-expressing CD133, and chemokine C-X-C motif receptor 4 (CXCR4+). Arterial stiffness was evaluated by tonometry-derived pulse wave velocity (PWV) and microvascular function was assessed as digital reactive hyperemia index (RHI). Results: In cross-sectional analyses, for every doubling in CD34+ cell counts, PWV was 15% higher and RHI was 9% lower, after adjusting for baseline characteristics and risk factors (p for all < 0.01). There were significant CPC-by-age-by-risk factor interactions (p <0.05) for both vascular measures. Among younger subjects (< 48 years), CPC counts were higher in those with risk factors and vascular function was better in those with higher compared to those with lower CPC counts (p for all < 0.0l). In contrast, in older participants, CPCs were not higher in those with risk factors, and vascular function was worse compared to the younger age group. A lower CPC count at baseline was an independent predictor of worsening vascular function during 2-year follow-up. Conclusion: A higher CPC count in the presence of risk factors is associated with better vascular function among younger individuals. There is no increase in CPC count with risk factors in older individuals who have worse vascular function. Moreover, a higher CPC count is associated with less vascular dysfunction with aging.