Table 3.
Circulating endothelial biomarkers studied in univariate analysis
| Patients with SSc | Control subjects | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endothelial cellular markers | |||
| EMPs, n/μl | 93.5 [64.75–130.5] | 33 [21– 46.5] | <0.0001*** |
| CECs, n/ml | 2 [1–8.5] | 2.5 [0–16,5] | 0.7677 |
| PC subsets | |||
| CFU-ECs, n/106 MNCs | 11 [3–20.25] | 3 [0.85–8] | 0.0032** |
| CD34+ PCs, n/ml | 2074.5 [1459.5–2578] | 1555 [1225–1960] | 0.0442* |
| CD34+CD45+ PCs, n/ml | 1662 [1297.7–2134.2] | 1485 [1117.5–1912.5] | 0.4247 |
| KDR+ PCs, n/ml | 37 [5.5–100.5] | 57.01 [27.5–96] | 0.243 |
| CD133+ PCs, n/ml | 1185 [827–1456] | 1287 [929.71–1705.13] | 0.2463 |
| CD34+CD45− EPCs, n/ml | 247 [74.2–508.2] | 40 [0–82.5] | <0.0001*** |
| Soluble endothelial markers | |||
| VEGF, pg/ml | 57 [39–118] | 42 [26–78.7] | 0.0357* |
| Endothelin-1, pg/ml | 1.68 [1.3–2.0] | 1.2 [1.0–1.3] | <0.0001*** |
| s-Fractalkine, pg/ml | 465.45 [366.4–598.5] | 186 [140.5–268.0] | <0.0001*** |
Abbreviations: EMP Endothelial microparticle, CEC Circulating endothelial cell, CFU-EC Colony-forming unit-endothelial cell, EPC Endothelial progenitor cell, KDR Kinas insert domain receptor, PC Progenitor cell, VEGF Vascular endothelial growth factor, s-Fractalkine Soluble fractalkine, MNC Mononuclear cell, SSc Systemic sclerosis * P < 0.05; 0.001 < **P < 0.01; *** P < 0.0005