Open AccessCirculating endothelial cells as biomarker for cardiovascular diseases
Author(s) -
Farinacci Maura,
Krahn Thomas,
Dinh Wilfried,
Volk HansDieter,
Düngen HansDirk,
Wagner Josephine,
Konen Timo,
Ahsen Oliver
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2475-0379
DOI - 10.1002/rth2.12158
Subject(s) - medicine , biomarker , endothelial progenitor cell , cardiology , heart failure with preserved ejection fraction , heart failure , endothelial dysfunction , progenitor cell , pathology , ejection fraction , stem cell , biology , biochemistry , genetics
Background Endothelial dysfunction is involved in several cardiovascular diseases. Elevated levels of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and low levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been described in different cardiovascular conditions, suggesting their potential use as diagnostic biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction. Compared to typical peripheral blood leukocyte subsets, CECs and EPCs occur at very low frequency. The reliable identification and characterization of CECs and EPCs is a prerequisite for their clinical use, however, a validated method to this purpose is still missing but a key for rare cell events. Objectives To establish a validated flow cytometric procedure in order to quantify CEC s and EPC s in human whole blood. Methods In the establishment phase, the assay sensitivity, robustness, and the sample storage conditions were optimized as prerequisite for clinical use. In a second phase, CEC s and EPC s were analyzed in heart failure with preserved ( HF p EF ) and reduced ( HF r EF ) ejection fraction, in arterial hypertension ( aHT ), and in diabetic nephropathy ( DN ) in comparison to age‐matched healthy controls. Results The quantification procedure for CEC s and EPC s showed high sensitivity and reproducibility. CEC values resulted significantly increased in patients with DN and HF p EF in comparison to healthy controls. CEC quantification showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 90% and a sensitivity of 68.0%, 70.4%, and 66.7% for DN , HF p EF , and aHT , respectively. Conclusion A robust and precise assay to quantify CEC s and EPC s in pre‐clinical and clinical studies has been established. CEC counts resulted to be a good diagnostic biomarker for DN and HF p EF .