Researchers from Seoul National University report recent findings in angiogenesis
2009 JUL 13 - (NewsRx.com) -- "Neurovascular dysfunction and senescent endothelium contribute to the progression of Alzheimer disease (AD). Circulating angiogenic cells (CACs), such as endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), provide a cellular reservoir for the endothelial replacement," scientists in Seoul, South Korea report. "To study the involvement of CACs in AD pathogenesis, we investigated the levels of CACs in patients with AD. Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AD (n = 55), patients with non-AD neurodegenerative diseases (n = 37), and nondemented risk factor control subjects (RF control, n = 55 and 37) were enrolled after matching for age, sex, and Framingham risk score. Peripheral blood samples were taken, and EPC colony-forming units (CFU-EPC) were cultured and counted. The patients with AD had significantly lower CFU-EPC than the RF controls. In the patients with AD, a lower CFU-EPC was independently associated with either a lower Mini-Mental State Examination score or a higher Clinical Dementia Rating scale score, indicating a greater reduction in CFU-EPC in advanced AD. with non-AD neurodegenerative diseases did not show a significant decrease in CFU-EPC levels. Our results indicate that patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) have reduced circulating angiogenic cells, suggesting that an abnormal capacity to regenerate endothelium is associated with AD," wrote S.T. Lee and colleagues, Seoul National University. The researchers concluded: "Neurology (R) 2009; 72:1858-1863." Lee and colleagues published their study in Neurology (Reduced circulating angiogenic cells in Alzheimer disease. Neurology, 2009;72(21):1858-1863). For additional information, contact J.K. Roh, Seoul National University, Dept. of Neurology, Clinic Research Institute, 101 Daehangno, Seoul 110744, South Korea. The publisher's contact information for the journal Neurology is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA. Keywords: South Korea, Seoul, Alzheimer Disease, Angiogenesis, Angiology, Endothelium, Mental Health, Neurodegenerative, Neurodegenerative Disease, Neurology, Oncology, Progenitor Cell, Stem Cell Research, Tumor Vascularization, Urology, Seoul National University. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
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