Endothelial progenitor cells in morbid obesity.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship among anthropometric indexes of adiposity (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC]), endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in patients with morbid obesity, and the effect of diabetes and weight loss. METHODS AND RESULTS: BMI, WC, IMT and circulating EPC (defined as CD34+/KDR+/CD45- cells) were assessed in 100 patients (37 with diabetes). Fifty patients underwent bariatric surgery, and in 48 of them a complete re-assessment after an average follow-up of 252±108 days was carried out. In 29 of them subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue samples were obtained at the time of intervention and analyzed for the presence and number of EPC. EPC were directly correlated with weight, BMI, WC and insulin level, and inversely with mean IMT. All correlations were confined to non-diabetic patients. EPC were found in both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue specimens. Circulating EPC significantly decreased after weight loss (P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: EPC are positively related to markers of adiposity in severe obesity, when not complicated by diabetes. Weight loss is associated with decrease in EPC level. EPC are inversely correlated with IMT, confirming their protective role also in severe obesity. Diabetes has a negative modulating action.