CD34/CXCR4 stem cell dynamics in acute stroke patients.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Non-hematopoietic stem cells may be a source of paracrine and structural regeneration for brain damaged by acute ischemic stroke. In this study, we investigated correlations of CD34-, CD34/CXCR4-, and CXCR4-positive peripheral blood CD45-negative stem cells with the neurological and functional status of 34 acute stroke patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood was sampled and assessed by flow cytometry on days 1, 2, 4, and 6 after stroke onset. Parallel to blood sampling and after 3 and 6 months, patients were assessed with the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, Barthel Index, Scandinavian Stroke Scale, and modified Rankin Scale. Blood was also sampled in 15 control subjects matched for age and sex, without history of previous stroke. RESULTS: We observed very low levels of the observed stem cells resident in peripheral blood. Higher baseline numbers of all 3 stem cell types correlated with better neurological or functional status on admission. Additionally, higher increases in CD34- and CD34/CXCR4-positive stem cell number and lower increase in CXCR4-positive cells correlated with initially worse neurological status. However, increased CD34- and CD34/CXCR4-positive cell induction in patients correlated with better functional/neurological status after the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We report that the number and dynamic changes in levels of non-hematopoietic CD34-, CD34/CXCR4-, and CXCR4-positive stem cells tend to correlate with acute stroke patients' neurologic and functional status.