Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease And Pulmonary Hypertension Endothelial Progenitor Cell Number And Function Of Changes

Objective:To investigate the changing of number and function of endothelial progenitor cells in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Method:Mononuclear cells from patients without COPD and PAH(non-COPD group,n=15),COPD patients without PAH(COPD non-PAH group,n=15)and patients with PAH secondary to COPD(COPD and PAH group,n=30) were investigated.Total mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation.EPC number and migration were assayed by colony forming unit - EPCs (CFU-EPCs) assay and modified Boyden chamber assay,respec- tively. EPC adhesion assay was performed by replating those on fibronectin-coated dishes,then adherent cells were counted.Result:The number of CFU and migration,adhesion activity of circulating EPCs in COPD and PAH group is significantly lower than that in non-COPD group and COPD non-PAH group(F=9.79～15.42,q=3.578～7.963,P＜0.05).It was also observed that a strong negative correlation between the level of PAH and the number of CFU and adhesion,migration activity of circulating EPCs(r=-0.87,-0.89,-0.93,P＜0.01).Conclusion:The number of CFU and migratory,adhesive activity of EPC in patients with PAH secondary to COPD is significantly decreased.