Circulating Humoral Factors and Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients With Differing Coronary Collateral Support

Abstract

Background— The mechanisms underlying the variation in collateral formation between patients, even with similar patterns of coronary artery disease, remain unclear. This study investigates whether circulating humoral or cellular factors can provide an insight into this variation. Methods and Results— Thirty patients with isolated left anterior descending coronary artery disease underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with collateral flow index (CFI) determined using a pressure wire. Patients with inadequate (CFI r =−0.61, P 165 , or placental growth factor. There was a strong positive correlation between numbers of CD34/CD133-positive circulating hemopoietic precursor cells and CFI ( r =0.75, P P P Conclusions— In this study, inadequate coronary collateral development is associated with reduced numbers of circulating EPCs and impaired chemotactic and proangiogenic but not mitogenic activity. These findings are consistent with current efforts to enhance collateral formation by augmentation of circulating EPCs.