Reduced Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Downregulated GTCPH I Pathway Related to Endothelial Dysfunction in Premenopausal Women with Isolated Impaired Glucose Tolerance

Figure 1

Number and activity of circulating EPCs in the three groups. Circulating EPCs were evaluated by (a) flow cytometric analysis and (b) cell culture assay. The number of circulating EPCs in premenopausal women with i-IGT was significantly lower than that in NGT and i-IFG women (both ). No difference of the number of circulating EPCs was observed between NGT and i-IFG women. The migratory (c) and proliferative (d) activities of circulating EPCs in premenopausal women i-IGT were significantly decreased compared to NGT and i-IFG women (all ). No difference of the activity of circulating EPCs was observed between NGT and IFG women. Data are given as mean ± SD ( vs. NGT; vs. IFG, n = 20 for the NGT group and i-IGT group and n = 21 for the IFG group). NGT: normal glucose tolerance; i-IFG: isolated impaired fasting glucose; i-IGT: isolated impaired glucose tolerance; acLDL, acetylated low-density lipoprotein; CD, cluster of differentiation; KDR, kinase-insert domain receptor; EPCs, endothelial progenitor cells.

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