Smoking and Endothelial Progenitor Cells: A Revision of Literature

Title: Smoking and Endothelial Progenitor Cells: A Revision of Literature

Volume: 16 Issue: 23

Author(s): Rossella Di Stefano, Maria Chiara Barsotti, Francesca Felice, Angela Magera, John Lekakis, Aurelio Leone and Alberto Balbarini

Affiliation:

Keywords: Smoking, endothelial progenitor cells, nitric oxide, nicotine

Abstract: Accumulating evidence indicates that circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) derived from bone marrow contribute to reendothelialization of injured vessels as well as neo-vascularization of ischemic lesions in either a direct or an indirect way. Moreover, the number and/or the functional activity of EPCs are inversely correlated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Among the different risk factors, cigarette smoking is a major cause of reducing the numbers and function of circulating EPCs. This review is a revision of recent literature on EPC alteration associated with smoking. In particular, we show the recent observation on the effects of active and second hand smoke (SHS) exposure on EPC number and functional activity. This review also considers the effects of nicotine and other smoke compounds on EPC number and activity, in in vitro and in vivo models.

Cite this article as:

Di Stefano Rossella, Chiara Barsotti Maria, Felice Francesca, Magera Angela, Lekakis John, Leone Aurelio and Balbarini Alberto, Smoking and Endothelial Progenitor Cells: A Revision of Literature, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2010; 16 (23) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161210792062939