Smoking-Induced Inhibition of Number and Activity of Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Nitric Oxide in Males Were Reversed by Estradiol in Premenopausal Females

Figure 4

The NO, VEGF, and GM-CSF secretion by EPCs in the four groups. (a) The NO secretion by EPCs in male nonsmokers and smokers was lower than that in female premenopausal nonsmokers and smokers. No difference in NO secretion by EPCs between female premenopausal nonsmokers and smokers was found. However, the plasma NO level in male smokers was lower than that in male smokers. (b) There was no significant difference in VEGF secretion by EPCs between the four groups. (c) There was no significant difference in GM-CSF secretion by EPCs between the four groups. Data are given as mean ± SD. Vs nonsmokers; vs premenopausal women.

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(b)

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