Article

A reduction in number and function of endothelial progenitor cells
(EPCs) occurs in both physiologic aging and chronic heart failure (CHF). We
assessed whether disease and aging have additive effects on EPCs or whether
beneficial effects of exercise training are diminished in old age. METHODS: We
randomized 60 patients with stable CHF and 60 referent controls to a training or
a control group. To detect possible aging effects we included subjects below 55
(young) and above 65 years (older). Subjects in the training group exercised four
times daily at 60% to 70% of VO2max for four weeks under supervision. At baseline
and after the intervention the number and function of EPCs were assessed.
RESULTS: As compared with young referent controls, older referent controls showed
at baseline a reduced EPC number (young: 190 +/- 37 CD34/KDR positive cells/ml
blood; older: 131 +/- 26 CD34/KDR positive cells/ml blood; p < 0.05) and function
(young: 230 +/- 41 migrated cells/1000 plated cells; older: 185 +/- 28 cells/1000
plated cells; p < 0.05). In young and older CHF patients EPC-number (young: 85
+/- 21 CD34/KDR positive cells/ml blood; older: 78 +/- 20 CD34/KDR positive
cells/ml blood) and EPC-function (young: 113 +/- 26 cells/1000 plated cells;
older: 120 +/- 27 cells/1000 plated cells) were impaired. As a result of exercise
training, EPC function improved by 24% in older referent controls (p < 0.05),
while it remained unchanged in young training referent controls and controls
respectively. In young and older patients with CHF four weeks of exercise
training resulted in a significant improvement in EPC numbers and EPC function
(young: number +66% function +43%; p < 0.05; older: number +69% function +36%; p
< 0.05). These results were accompanied by a significant increase in flow
mediated dilatation in the training groups of young/older CHF patients and in
older referent controls. CONCLUSIONS: Four weeks of exercise training are
effective in improving EPC number and EPC function in CHF patients. These
training effects were not impaired among older patients, emphasizing the
potentials of rehabilitation interventions in a patient group where CHF has a
high prevalence.
CI - (c) The European Society of Cardiology 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS