Background: It is not known whether plasma adiponectin levels are associated with the number and function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Methods and results: Plasma levels of adiponectin were measured in 70 patients undergoing coronary angiography. The numbers of colony-forming units (CFUs) of EPCs and senescent EPCs, determined by acidic beta-galactosidase staining, were counted. The angiogenic growth factors in the culture medium were also measured. There was a significant positive correlation between adiponectin level and CFUs (r=0.257, p<0.05) but not with the occurrence of senescent EPCs. Next, patients were divided into a high adiponectin group (high ADP: > or =6.17 microg/ml, n=36) and low adiponectin group (low ADP: <6.17 microg/ml, n=34). The number of diseased coronary arteries was less in the high ADP group than that in the low ADP patients (1.7+/-0.8 vs 2.1+/-0.7, p<0.05). No significant differences between the 2 groups were demonstrated in angiogenic growth factors secreted from EPCs.
Conclusions: The results suggest that plasma adiponectin levels are associated with the number of EPCs in patients with CAD.