Patients with an HbA1c in the prediabetic and diabetic range have higher numbers of circulating cells with osteogenic and endothelial progenitor cell markers.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Vascular calcification, an important feature of diabetic vasculopathy, is an active process potentially mediated by endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) coexpressing the osteoblastic marker osteocalcin (OCN).

Objective

In this study we tested the hypothesis that cells expressing these markers are associated with the presence of elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).

Design, setting, and patients

This was a cross-sectional comparison. Patients (n = 133, aged 57.4 ± 15.7 yr) were divided into two groups according to the presence of an HbA1c in a (pre-)diabetic (>5.6) or normal range at the time of blood sampling.

Methods

Using flow cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs), cells positive for OCN, the EPC markers (CD34/KDR and CD133(+)/CD34(-)/

SUBMITTER: Flammer AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3513527 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature