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ABSTRACT
Objective: to determine whether functions of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were impaired in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods: 35 patients with permanent AF (AF group) and 35 age and sex matched controls (control group) were collected. The numbers of circulating CD34+/KDR+ cells were determined with flow cytometry in the two groups. Cell proliferation, tube formation, nitric oxygen (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were assayed.
Results: the numbers of CD34+/KDR+ cells were lower in the AF group than the control group (20.01 ± 12.66 /105 vs 77.93 ± 58.93 /105，p = 0.022). Colony formation unit (CFU) of EPCs were decreased in AF group compared to the control group（1.76 ± 0.59 CFU vs 3.45 ± 0.82 CFU, p = 0.0000). The AF group had lower cell proliferation ability than control group（0.401 ± 0.113 A vs 0.558 ± 0.130 A, p = 0.004). Tube formation ability was decreased in AF patients compared to controls（434.30 ± 96.22μm/mm2 vs 568.09 ± 196.17μm/mm2，p = 0.041). AF patients had lower VEGF secretion than controls (27.35 ± 9.93 ng/L vs 41.86 ± 7.31 ng/L，p = 0.001），they also had lower NO secretion than controls（16.55 ± 6.92μmol/l vs 23.65 ± 5.48，p = 0.012).
Conclusions: proliferation, tube formation and paracrine of EPCs were reduced in patients with permanent AF.
Declaration of interest
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.