Gender Differences In The Number And Function Of Endothelial Progenitor Cells In Prehypertension And Its Relationship With Nitric Oxide

Objective: To explore whether there is a gender difference exist in the number and function of endothelial progenitor cells in prehypertension and its relationship with nitric oxide.Methods: Eighty(46.5 ±4.6) years old volunteers were divided into four groups: normotensive premenopausal women(n=21), prehypertensive premenopausal women(n=20), normotensive men(n=19) and prehypertensive men(n=20). We used flow cytometry analysis evaluate the number of CD34 and KDR double-positive labeled circulating endothelial progenitor cells in each groups, as well as use acetylated low density lipoprotein(LDL) and lectin fluorescent staining method evaluate the number of cultured endothelial progenitor cells. The migration and proliferation of circulating endothelial progenitor cells were detected. In addition, we measured the levels of nitric oxide, vascular endothelial growth factor and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor in plasma or culture medium in each group.Results: 1. Compared with normotensive or prehypertensive men, the number and activity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in normotensive or prehypertensive premenopausal women were higher, which was similar to enhanced nitric oxide(NO) level in plasma or culture medium(P<0.05 and P<0.05, respectively). 2. There was no difference in the number and activity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells between normotensive and prehypertensive premenopausal women(P>0.05). Similary, the nitric oxide(NO) level in plasma or culture medium was the same in two group(P>0.05). 3. Compared with normotensive men, the migratory and proliferative activities of EPCs in prehypertensive men were lower(P<0.05). However, the EPC number in normotensive and prehypertensive men exhibited no significant difference(P>0.05). 4. There was no difference seen in levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor in each group(P>0.05 and P>0.05, respectively). 5. Both number and activity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells were correlated with the level of nitric oxide.Conclusion: There are exist gender differences in the number or activity of endothelial progenitor cells in prehypertension. Compared with prehypertensive men, the number and activity of circulating EPCs in prehypertensive premenopausal women were preserved, which was related to the restoration of NO production.