Abstract
Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the changes of number and function
of late endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in peripheral blood of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) patients combined with pulmonary hypertension.
Subjects and Methods The study enrolled 120 cases including 40 non-COPD and pulmonary arterial hypertension
(PAH) patients (non-COPD group), 40 COPD non-PAH patients (COPD group), and 40 COPD
patients combined with PAH (COPD + PAH group). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells
were separated by density gradient centrifugation, cultured for 21 days, and then
identified as late endothelial progenitor cells. The cell colonies were counted. MTT
assay, modified Boyden chamber assay, and human fibronectin plates were used to measure
the proliferation, migration, and adhesion functions of the late endothelial progenitor
cells, respectively.
Results Compared with non-COPD and COPD groups, the number of peripheral blood late EPCs
in COPD + PAH group was significantly reduced, and the proliferation, adhesion, and
migration capacities were significantly lowered; the differences were statistically
significant (p < 0.05). The number and function of late EPCs decreased with the increase of pulmonary
artery pressure (p < 0.05).
Conclusion The number of late EPCs in COPD patients combined with pulmonary hypertension was
reduced, which implies the impaired cell functions. The changes of number and function
were negatively correlated with the severity of pulmonary hypertension.
Keywords
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - pulmonary hypertension - late EPCs