Decreased Count and Dysfunction of Circulating EPCs in Postmenopausal Hypercholesterolemic Females via Reducing NO Production

Figure 4

The NO, VEGF, GM-CSF, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 secretion by EPCs. (a) The NO secretion by EPCs in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic males was equal to that in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal females. The plasma NO level in hypercholesterolemic males or postmenopausal females was lower than that in normocholesterolemic males or postmenopausal females. (b, c) There was no significant difference in VEGF and GM-CSF secretion by EPCs between the four groups. (d–g) There was no significant difference in TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 secretion by EPCs between the four groups. Data are given as mean ± SD. versus normocholesterolemia in same sex group.

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