Longitudinal profile of circulating endothelial cells in post-acute coronary syndrome patients

Marie de Bakker, Jaco Kraan, K. Martijn Akkerhuis, Rohit Oemrawsingh, Folkert W. Asselbergs, Imo Hoefer, Isabella Kardys, Eric Boersma

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: Patients who have experienced an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at risk of a recurrent event, but their level of risk varies. Because of their close temporal relationship with vascular injury, longitudinal measurements of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) carry potential to improve individual risk assessment. Methods: We conducted an explorative nested case-control study within our multicenter, prospective, observational biomarker study (BIOMArCS) of 844 ACS patients. Following an index ACS, high-frequency blood sampling was performed during 1-year follow-up. CECs were identified using flow cytometric analyses in 15 cases with recurrent event, and 30 matched controls. Results: Cases and controls had a median (25th-75thpercentile) age of 64.1 (58.1-75.1) years and 80% were men. During the months preceding the endpoint, the mean (95%CI) CEC concentration in cases was persistently higher than in controls (12.8 [8.2-20.0] versus 10.0 [7.0-14.4] cells/ml), although this difference was non-significant (P = 0.339). In controls, the mean cell concentration was significantly (P = 0.030) lower in post 30-day samples compared to samples collected within one day after index ACS: 10.1 (7.5-13.6) versus 17.0 (10.8-26.6) cells/ml. Similar results were observed for CEC subsets co-expressing CD133 and CD309 (VEGFR-2) or CD106 (VCAM-1). Conclusion: Despite their close relation to vascular damage, no increase in cell concentrations were found prior to the occurrence of a secondary adverse cardiac event.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)152-159
Number of pages8
JournalBiomarkers
Volume28
Issue number2
Early online date2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Circulating endothelial cells
  • acute coronary syndrome
  • atherosclerosis
  • cardiovascular disease
  • repeated measurements
  • vascular injury

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