Reduced Vitamin D Receptor on Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells: A New Risk Factor of Coronary Artery Diseases

J Atheroscler Thromb. 2018 May 1;25(5):410-421. doi: 10.5551/jat.40808. Epub 2017 Nov 24.

Abstract

Aim: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are shown to participate in the pathological processes of atherosclerosis. While Vitamin D and its receptor axis might exert some effects on EPCs' function. But their exact relationship with clinical patients is still elusive, which inspired us to explore the potential association of vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression on circulating EPCs and serum vitamin D levels among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Two hundred patients with CAD after their admission to hospital and one hundred healthy controls were enrolled. Medical history data were retrieved and fresh blood samples were collected for flow cytometry analysis. VDR expressions on EPCs were evaluated according to the standardized protocol. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the potential risk factor of CAD.

Results: CAD patients were found to have lower log10VDR-MFIs than those of control group, especially for patients with diabetes (p<0.001). Log10VDR-MFIs were inversely correlated with glycated hemoglobin (R=-0.472, p<0.001), and while EPCs challenged with high glucose had lower VDR expression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower log10VDR-MFIs were independently associated with the risk of CAD (OR=0.055, p=0.008).

Conclusion: A significant decrease of VDR expression on circulating EPCs was observed among CAD patients, particularly among those also with diabetes. VDR expression on EPCs was independently negatively correlated with HbA1c and high glucose decreased EPCs' VDR expression. Low levels of VDR expression on circulating EPCs might serve as a potential risk factor of CAD.

Keywords: Coronary artery disease; Diabetes; Endothelial progenitor cells; Vitamin D receptor.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cells, Cultured
  • China / epidemiology
  • Coronary Artery Disease / blood*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / epidemiology
  • Endothelial Progenitor Cells / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / blood*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • VDR protein, human