Quaranta Nicola, Ramunni Alfonso, De Luca Concetta, Brescia Paola, Dambra Porzia, De Tullio Giacomina, Vacca Angelo, Quaranta Antonio
Otolaryngology Clinic "G. Lugli", Otology and Neurotologic Surgery, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari, Italy.
Acta Otolaryngol. 2011 Apr;131(4):347-50. doi: 10.3109/00016489.2010.536990. Epub 2010 Dec 20.
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a unique subtype of circulating cells with properties similar to those of embryonal angioblasts. They have the potential to proliferate and to differentiate into mature endothelial cells. EPCs are reduced in patients with vascular risk factors due to a decreased mobilization, an increased consumption at the site of damage or a reduced half-life. The results of this study confirm the existence of an endothelial dysfunction in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) and support the vascular involvement in the pathogenesis of the disease.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of EPCs in patients affected by SSHL.
Twenty-one patients affected by SSHL were evaluated. The number of EPCs was analyzed by flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood CD34+KDR+CD133+ cells.
Circulating levels of EPCs were significantly lower in SSHL patients compared with controls. In particular, CD34+KDR+ cells and CD34+CD133+KDR+ cells were significantly reduced (p < 0.05).
内皮祖细胞（EPCs）是循环细胞的一种独特亚型，其特性与胚胎血管母细胞相似。它们具有增殖并分化为成熟内皮细胞的潜力。由于动员减少、损伤部位消耗增加或半衰期缩短，血管危险因素患者体内的EPCs数量减少。本研究结果证实了突发性感音神经性听力损失（SSHL）患者存在内皮功能障碍，并支持血管因素参与该疾病的发病机制。
本研究旨在评估SSHL患者中EPCs的浓度。
对21例SSHL患者进行评估。通过对外周血CD34+KDR+CD133+细胞进行流式细胞术分析来检测EPCs数量。
与对照组相比，SSHL患者循环中的EPCs水平显著降低。特别是，CD34+KDR+细胞和CD34+CD133+KDR+细胞显著减少（p<0.05）。
