Inverse Correlation Between Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells With CD34+CD133+ and the Severity of Coronary Atherosclerosis Assessed by Syntax Score

BackgroundThe number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) descends when atherosclerosis developed. The objective was to compare the number of CD34 + CD133 + cells with the severity of atherosclerosis assessed by Syntax score.MethodsThe study included 80 patients with stable angina undergoing coronary angiography. Patients were classified into single-vessel group, multiple-vessel group and normal group according to angiography. The percentage of CD34 + CD133 + cells in the mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood of different groups by flow cytometric analysis was compared. The quantity of CD34 + CD133 + EPCs was log transformed to improve normality (lgEPC). Syntax score was used in this study to assess the extent of coronary artery disease.Results:The level of lgEPC was lower in the single-vessel group than that in the normal group (− 3.42 ± 0.44 versus − 3.17 ± 0.39, P < 0.05), and the level of lgEPC was lower in the multiple-vessel group than that in the single vessel group (− 3.63 ± 0.31 versus − 3.42 ± 0.44, P < 0.05). An inverse correlation between lgEPC and Syntax score analyzed by linear regression.ConclusionsEPC level probably serves as a predictor of the development and severity of atherosclerosis on a cellular level. EPC, a relatively more important risk factor, perhaps protects against coronary artery disease.