Research Into The Relation Of Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells And Coronary Slow Flow

Objective:We investigate alterations of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with coronary slow flow, and discuss the relationship between the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and the pathophysiologic process of coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP).Methods:Twenty patients with coronary slow flow (CSF) and20normal control subjects were included in the study. Mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were plated on human fibronectin coated culture dishes. After cultured for7days, unattached cells were washed by PBS. Attached cells were cytochemically analyzed. EPCs were characterized as adherent cells double positive for DiI-AcLDL-uptake and FITC-UEA-I-binding by converted fluorescence microscope with direct fluorescent staining. Count the number of EPCs. Comparison of basic data between the two groups was performed using t-test and Chi-squre. Multivariate stepwise regression evaluating correlative factor was performed.Results:There was no significantly difference between the two groups in gender, age, smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and the levels of plasma lipoprotein. The number of EPCs was significantly reduced in patients with CSF compared with control subjects (36.95±6.1vs53.95±6.7EPCs/×200field; P<0.01). Multivariate stepwise regression showed that dependent variable is mean TIMI frame count,the number of EPCs entered. B=-0.654, F=19.146, P=0.001.Conclusion:The number of EPCs was significantly decreased in patients with CSF, and was negative correlated with TIMI frame count. Endothelial dysfunction may participate in the pathophysiologic process of coronary slow flow.