Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Prehypertension

Title: Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Prehypertension

Volume: 17 Issue: 28

Author(s): Rossella Di Stefano, Maria Chiara Barsotti, Francesca Felice, Charalambos Vlachopoulos and Alberto Balbarini

Affiliation:

• Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Department, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.

Keywords: Prehypertension, hypertension, endothelial progenitor cells, cardiovascular system, drug therapy, nutrition, diabetes mellitus, obesity, chemokines, oxidative stress

Abstract: Blood pressure within prehypertensive levels confers higher cardiovascular risk. As prehypertension is also an intermediate stage for full hypertension, a precocious intervention with lifestyle changes or drugs is therefore appealing. Endothelial injury and dysfunction are thought to contribute to cardiovascular risk in prehypertension. Endothelial progenitor cell impairment has been linked to endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerotic disease progression and cardiovascular events. A potential mechanism contributing to the heightened cardiovascular risk in prehypertension may be linked to abnormalities in endothelial progenitor cell number and/or function.

Aim of this review is to be up to date about the recent work on the correlation between endothelial progenitor cells and prehypertension and the possible prevention, treatment, and control of this pathology. The effect of an approach based on dietary intervention on both blood pressure and endothelial progenitor cells will be also shown.