Osteocalcin expression by circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with coronary atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study was designed to test whether patients with coronary atherosclerosis have increases in circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) expressing an osteogenic phenotype.

Background

Increasing evidence indicates a link between bone and the vasculature, and bone marrow and circulating osteogenic cells have been identified by staining for the osteoblastic marker, osteocalcin (OCN). Endothelial progenitor cells contribute to vascular repair, but repair of vascular injury may result in calcification. Using cell surface markers (CD34, CD133, kinase insert domain receptor [KDR]) to identify EPCs, we examined whether patients with coronary atherosclerosis had increases in the percentage of EPCs expressing OCN.

Methods

We studied 72 patients undergoing in

SUBMITTER: Gossl M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2613163 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature