Chronic stress is associated with reduced circulating hematopoietic progenitor cell number: A maternal caregiving model.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic psychological stress is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells (CPCs) maintain vascular homeostasis, correlate with preclinical atherosclerosis, and prospectively predict cardiovascular events. We hypothesize that (1) chronic caregiving stress is related to reduced CPC number, and (2) this may be explained in part by negative interactions within the family.

Methods

We investigated levels of stress and CPCs in 68 healthy mothers - 31 of these had children with an autism spectrum disorder (M-ASD) and 37 had neurotypical children (M-NT). Participants provided fasting blood samples, and CD45⁺CD34⁺KDR⁺ and CD45⁺CD133⁺KDR⁺ CPCs were assay

SUBMITTER: Aschbacher K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5154768 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature