Circulating Bone Marrow-Derived CD45−/CD34+/CD133+/VEGF+ Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Adults with Crohn’s Disease

Abstract

EPCs are elevated in patients with CD. Further studies are needed to examine the function of EPCs and their possible role as a marker of disease severity or therapeutic response.

Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Crohn’s Disease: An EPiC in the Making?

“…In fact, Galiano et al [13] reported that a local elevated level of VEGF and SDF-1 in ischemic foci may help in EPC recruitment from the circulation to the site of injury to assist diabetic wound healing. Therefore, it is highly likely that an increase in peripheral EPCs may be a sign of treatment feedback, though the authors could not support this association in their study [11]. The present study [11] presents a major advantage over previous studies in terms of clinical variables and number of patients.…”

“…Boltin et al's [11] findings mark an important step toward addressing the current controversies in CD research. Their results are consistent with accumulating evidence that EPCs do in fact participate in the regeneration of damaged epithelium.…”

“…In this issue of Digestive Diseases and Sciences, Boltin et al, in an effort to resolve the issue related to the number of circulating EPCs in context of CD [11], studied 32 CD patients and 51 healthy controls, recruiting CD patients of varying ancestry, assessing disease activity using the Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI). Among these patients, twenty-eight were being treated with biological therapy (infliximab) and twenty-one were receiving immunomodulators.…”

“…Among these patients, twenty-eight were being treated with biological therapy (infliximab) and twenty-one were receiving immunomodulators. Boltin et al [11] isolated the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and evaluated the EPC numbers by fluorescent cell sorting (FACS) analysis employing antibodies to the biomarkers cluster of differentiation (CD)34, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2, CD133, and CD45. They reported a significant increase in the percentage of EPCs of the peripheral white blood cells in CD patients as compared to healthy controls.…”

“…Given this observation, why were circulating EPC numbers in CD patients reported to be unchanged or even reduced in previous studies? Boltin et al [11] reasoned that in their study, a high percentage of patients were receiving biological therapy that in turn could assist in recruiting EPCs to the endothelial repair site. In fact, Galiano et al [13] reported that a local elevated level of VEGF and SDF-1 in ischemic foci may help in EPC recruitment from the circulation to the site of injury to assist diabetic wound healing.…”