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(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2007;27:936.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis and Lipoproteins

Vascular Dysfunction and Reduced Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Young Healthy UK South Asian Men

Cliona Murphy; Gajen S. Kanaganayagam; Benyu Jiang; Philip J. Chowienczyk; Rainer Zbinden; Mrinal Saha; Salman Rahman; Ajay M. Shah; Michael S. Marber; Mark T. Kearney

From the Cardiovascular Division, Kings College London, London, UK.

Correspondence to Dr Mark Kearney, Cardiovascular Diabetes Research Group, Leeds Institute for Genetics Health & Therapeutics, Leeds University Medical School, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS29JT, United Kingdom. E-mail m.t.kearney{at}leeds.ac.uk; or Dr Michael Marber, King’s College London, The Rayne Institute, St Thomas’s Hospital, London, SE17EH, United Kingdom. E-mail mike.marber@kcl.ac.uk

Objectives— The objective of this study was to examine determinants of excess coronary artery disease risk in UK South Asians, more prevalent in this population than UK Caucasians, by examining differences in risk factors, vascular function, and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

Methods and Results— 24 South Asian and 25 Caucasian healthy age-matched nonsmoking men were studied. Vascular function was assessed by flow-mediated and GTN brachial artery dilatation and blood flow responses to infusion of ACh, SNP, and L-NMMA. EPC number and function were measured by flow cytometry (CD34, CD133, and KDR positive cells), and CFU/migration assays. Traditional risk factors and anthropometric measurements were similar in the groups. South Asians had higher fasting insulin levels (6.01 versus 3.62 µU/mL; P=0.02). South Asians had lower FMD (6.9 versus 8.5%; P=0.003), L-NMMA response (0.8 versus 1.3 mL/min/100 mL; P=0.03), mean SNP response (9.5±0.6 versus 11.6±0.6; P=0.02), EPC number (0.046±0.005% versus 0.085±0.009%; P=< 0.001), and CFU ability (CFU 4.29±1.57 versus 18.86±4.00; P=0.005). EPC number was the strongest predictor of FMD. Ethnicity was the strongest predictor of EPC number.

Conclusions— Healthy South Asian men are more insulin resistant, and demonstrate endothelial dysfunction and reduced EPC number and function compared with Caucasians. These abnormalities may contribute to their increased CAD risk.

UK South Asians have a higher incidence of coronary disease than Caucasians. 49 healthy South Asian and Caucasian men were studied. Peripheral vascular function was measured. EPC numbers and function were measured by flow-cytometry and cell culture. South Asians were more insulin resistant, had vascular dysfunction, and lower EPC numbers and function.

Key Words: endothelium • vascular dysfunction • endothelial progenitor cells • nitric oxide • insulin resistance

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