Effects of Exercise Training on Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2007.06.722
• Publication Date: 2007-12-05T23:32:04Z
• Authors: Patrizio Sarto; Elena Balducci; Giovanna Balconi; Fabio Fiordaliso; Laura Merlo; Giancarlo Tuzzato; Giovanni L. Pappa...; Nicoletta Frigato; Albino Zanocco; Concetta Forestieri; Giuseppe Azzarello; Antonio Mazzucco; Maria Teresa Valenti; Flora Alborino; Donatella Noventa; Orazio Vinante; Piero Pascotto; Saverio Sartore; Elisabetta Dejana; Roberto Latini
• Keywords: Heart Failure; Male; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Time Factors; Stem Cells; Endothelial Cells; Middle Aged; Flow Cytometry; Colony forming unit; cytokines;; Colony forming unit; cytokines; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Treatment Outcome; 0302 clinical medicine; Cytokines; Humans; Female; Endothelium; Prospective Studies; Exercise

The enhancement of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) obtained by exercise training can be beneficial to patients with cardiac disease. Changes in the levels and differentiation of CD34(pos)/KDR(pos) EPCs, as well as the plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 EPC-mobilizing cytokines, were evaluated in patients with chronic heart failure after 8 weeks of supervised aerobic training (SAT) and 8 weeks of subsequent discontinued SAT (DSAT).The levels of circulating EPC and EPC differentiation potential of 22 patients who underwent SAT were studied by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis and colony forming-unit assay, respectively. The plasma levels of VEGF and SDF-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In response to SAT, the levels of both EPC and VEGF/SDF-1 markedly increased (P < .001 vs baseline) but returned to the baseline levels after DSAT. A similar change was observed with the EPC clonogenic potential, but on DSAT the baseline level was incompletely attained.In response to SAT, patients with chronic heart failure show enhanced EPC levels and clonogenic potential that is mirrored by increased plasma VEGF and SDF-1 levels. DSAT can interfere with the maintenance of training-acquired VEGF/SDF-1-related EPC levels and clonogenic potential.