Endothelial progenitor cells in combination with estrogen against restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective To investigate the effect endothelial progenitor cells(EPC)in combination with estrogen on restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.Methods Sixty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups:the sham operation group(group-Ⅰ),the control group(group-Ⅱ),the estrogen treated group(group-Ⅲ),the EPC treated group(group-Ⅳ),and the estrogen in combination with EPC group(group-Ⅴ),with twelve rabbits in each group.Three days after ovariectomy,animals in groups Ⅲ and Ⅴ were treated with estrogen,and the others were given physiological saline.The level of estrogen was detected before ovariectomy,and on day 3 and 2 weeks after ovariectomy.Levels of blood lipids(including total cholesterol,triglyceride,high density lipoprotein choesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol)were also detected after hyperlipemia feeding for 6 weeks.Mononuclear cells were isolated from the peripheral blood of rabbits and cultured for implantation.Afterestablishing animal models of injured abdominal aorta,animals in the sham-operation group had the femoral artery exposed without injuries.At the same time,rabbits in groups Ⅳ and Ⅴwere subjected to suspension of EPC at 2ml through a catheter and the others(except Ⅰ group)were given physiological saline.Endothelium recovery,degree of cell proliferation and lumen loss were evaluated after 4 weeks.Results The level of estrogen in groups Ⅲ and Ⅴwere obviously higher than that in groupsⅠ,Ⅱ and Ⅳ(P0.01).The levels of blood lipids,including total cholesterol(P0.01),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(P0.01)and high density lipoprotein choesterol(P0.05)were statistically different between groups Ⅲ,Ⅴ and groupsⅠ,Ⅱ Ⅳ.There were also a statistical significance in the degree of endothelium recovery,cell proliferation and lumen loss between group Ⅴ and groups Ⅲ,Ⅳ[(90.2±5.1)% vs(85.1±4.1)% and(83.9±6.5)%,P0.05],[(15.67±2.98)% vs(26.02±4.18)% and(24.87±3.54)%,P0.01],and [(17.61±2.69)% vs(38.43±4.35)% and(41.15±4.45)%,P0.01].Conclusion EPC in combination with estrogen after PCI can speed up the process of endothelial recovery and significantly reduces lumen loss.