Circulating endothelial progenitor cell levels are not reduced in HIV-infected men

J Infect Dis. 2012 Mar 1;205(5):713-7. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir836. Epub 2012 Jan 11.

Abstract

Reduced levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk, but limited data are available on EPC levels in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population. EPCs (CD45(dim)/CD34(+)/kinase domain receptor(+)) from 36 HIV-uninfected and 30 antiretroviral therapy-naive HIV-infected men without known CV risk factors were enumerated using flow cytometry. The mean EPC levels (± standard error of the mean) were 1.4 ± 0.5 cells/μL in the HIV-infected group and 3.7 ± 2.2 cells/μL in the control group (P = .92). EPC levels were not associated with disease parameters, such as CD4 cell count or viral load. Reductions in EPC levels do not seem to explain the increased risk of CV disease among HIV-infected men.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, CD34 / analysis
  • Atherosclerosis / etiology
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Endothelial Cells / immunology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • HIV Infections / blood*
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / analysis
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / immunology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / analysis
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens