Objective: To observe the effects of C reactive protein (CRP) on endothelial progenitor cell (EPCs) function.
Methods: Mononuclear cells (MNCs), isolated from bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation combined with adherent cell filtration, were plated on fibronectin coated culture dishes. After 7 days, adherent cells were cultured with different concentrations of CRP (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 microg/ml) for 48 hours. EPCs proliferation and migration ability were observed and adhesion assay was performed. The eNOS mRNA expression of EPCs were measured by RT-PCR.
Results: The number of EPCs in CRP groups (10, 15, 20microg/ml) was obviously lower than that in control group (54 +/- 3, 47 +/- 3, 39 +/- 5 vs.60 +/- 3, P < 0.01). EPCs proliferation capacity was inhibited in CRP groups (10, 15, 20 microg/ml) compared with that in control group (0.297 +/- 0.036, 0.273 +/- 0.013, 0.259 +/- 0.035 vs. 0.345 +/- 0.014, P < 0.01). EPCs migration capacity was inhibited significantly in CRP groups (5, 10, 15, 20 microg/ml) than that in control group (28 +/- 2, 22 +/- 3, 19 +/- 3, 16 +/- 2 vs. 30 +/- 2, P < 0.05). EPCs adhensive number was lower in CRP groups than that in control group (11 +/- 2, 9 +/- 2, 6 +/- 2, 5 +/- 1 vs. 12 +/- 2, P < 0.05). The mRNA expressions of eNOS in CRP groups were significantly lower in control group. And compared with control group, NOS activity decreased significantly in CRP groups (10, 15, 20 microg/ml) (57.44 +/- 3.25, 48.37 +/- 3.86, 36.82 +/- 4.89 vs. 68.56 +/- 2.82, P < 0.01).
Conclusion: CRP could both reduce EPCs number and inhibit EPCs functions.