Decrease and Senescence of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients with Preeclampsia

Background: In preeclampsia, the precise mechanism of impaired vascular function is still unclear. We hypothesized that cellular function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) might be impaired in patients with preeclampsia. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the number and status of cellular senescence of EPCs in the circulation of women with preeclampsia. Methods: Circulating EPCs were cultured from patients with preeclampsia (n = 8) and normotensive pregnant women (n = 7). EPC numbers were assessed by colony-forming unit (CFU) methodology as previously reported. In addition, to assess cellular senescence, we measured endogenous β-galactosidase activity. Moreover, we assessed whether the serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for systemic inflammation, was associated with cellular impairment of EPCs. Results: The number of circulating EPCs was decreased in women with preeclampsia controls (median, 10.0 vs. 34.0 CFU; P < 0.01). The rate of cellular senescence was significantly increased in patients with preeclampsia (33.9%) compared with that in controls (22.9%; P < 0.05). Patients with preeclampsia were divided into two subgroups: the CRP-negative group (CRP,