Angiogenic T-Cells and Putative Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Hypertension-Related Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

Abstract

Background and Purpose—: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) may be caused by endothelial dysfunction, whereas endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) may attenuate endothelial dysfunction. Their vitality is lower in CSVD. A subset of lymphocytes, angiogenic T-cells, is capable to stimulate EPC function. The purpose of our study was to explore the relation between CSVD manifestations, angiogenic T-cells, and EPC in hypertensive patients with CSVD. Methods—: We compared 32 essential hypertensive patients with CSVD (white matter lesions, asymptomatic lacunar infarcts, or microbleeds on 1.5-Tesla MRI) to 29 age-matched and sex-matched hypertensive controls. We counted angiogenic T-cells (CD3 ⁺ /CD31 ⁺ /CD184 ⁺ ) and putative EPC (CD31 ⁺ /CD34 ⁺ /CD45 ^- /KDR ⁺ ) by flow cytometry and determined EPC vitality by in vitro cluster formation. Results—: Putative EPC numbers were lower in hypertensive individuals with CSVD than in those without (10±7 ^. 10 ³ /mL versus 13±6 ^. 10 ³ /mL [median±interquartile range]; P =0.011). Angiogenic T-cell numbers were also lower in hypertensive individuals with CSVD than in those without (0.56±0.25 ^. 10 ⁹ /mL versus 0.78±0.50 ^. 10 ⁹ /mL; P =0.008). Higher angiogenic T-cell numbers independently related to absence of CSVD (odds ratio, 0.088; 95% confidence interval, 0.012–0.627). Conclusions—: Our data suggest that angiogenic T-cells and putative EPC independently relate to radiological CSVD manifestations in hypertensive patients.