Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension is Accompanied by Decreased Number of Circulating Endothelial Cells and Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells

Abstract

Maternal endothelial dysfunction is one of the main features of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). It is generally accepted that circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) reflect the state of the endothelium, its injury and/or repair possibilities. The objective of this study was to determine whether the CECs and EPCs numbers in the circulation of women with PIH reflect the presence of this pathology. Peripheral blood cells of PIH and normotensive pregnant women were labeled with specific monoclonal antibodies. For CECs evaluation, samples were labeled with anti-CD31 and anti-CD45 antibodies; for EPCs with anti-VEGFR2/KDR and anti-CD34 antibodies. Cells were quantified by flow cytometry. The levels of both CECs (CD31+, CD45−) and EPCs (CD34+, VEGFR2/KDR+) in the peripheral blood of women with PIH were significantly lower compared with those of control pregnant women with normal blood pressure level. Lowered accessibility of maternal CECs and EPCs may diminish general regenerative potential of the patient endothelia, contributing to PIH symptoms and to the risk of subsequent coronary and arterial disease.

Circulating endothelial cells, circulating endothelial progenitor cells, and von Willebrand factor in pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders

“…26 When we compared the women in the gestational hypertension group with those in the control group, our findings revealed no statistically significant differences in the number of CECs. However, in a recent study, Heimrath et al 27 have indicated that women with gestational hypertension have lower levels of CECs compared to women with healthy pregnancies. The course of gestational hypertension is usually mild, and in our findings, the blood pressure values in the gestational hypertension group were the lowest of the different study groups.…”

Increased Endothelial Progenitor Cell Number in Early Stage of Endometrial Cancer

“…To evaluate EPC number (CD34 + , VEGFR2/ KDR + ), PerCP-conjugated anti-CD34 (Becton Dickinson) and PE-conjugated anti-VEGFR2/KDR (R&D Systems) antibodies were used. Cells were labeled like described by Heimrath et al 22 Minimal counts of 150,000 events were collected. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses were performed using CellQuest software (Becton Dickinson) and fluorescent CytoCount beads (Dako) for cell number evaluation.…”

“…21 We showed that, in young pregnant women with pregnancy-induced hypertension, EPC number was significantly diminished as compared with the control group of healthy pregnant women. 22 The endometrium is the mucous layer of human uterus composed of a layer of epithelium and a layer of connective tissue, the thickness of which changes according to the age and hormonal status from 0.5 mm in young, nonmenstruating woman to approximately 7 to 15 mm during the menstrual cycle. In postmenopausal women taking hormonal replacement therapy, endometrium thickness should not exceed 8 mm.…”

The endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction in hypertension: the diagnostic and predictive values

“…In hypertensive individuals with end-stage renal disease, EPC number and function were significantly reduced and inversely associated with CV risk [82] . Moreover, the levels of EPCs in the peripheral blood of women with pregnancy-induced hypertension were significantly lower compared with those of control pregnant women with normal BP level [83] . Numerous investigators reported that a lowered number of EPC and an altered EPC function related strongly not only with brachial BP levels, but the increased central aortic systolic pressure, aortic augmentation index, and pulse wave velocity as a marker of arterial stiffness.…”