Role of early hematopoietic precursors in atherosclerosis progression
Atherosclerosis is a polyetiologic disease. Atherogenic dislipoproteinemia plays the greatest role in atherogenesis, but there are a lot of atherogenic factors independent of lipid profile. Contemporary scientific data underline the key importance of endothelial reparation in protection of endothelium from detrimental influences (smoking, dislipoproteinemia, diabetes etc.), but not only atherogenic dislipidemias in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Data about circulating endothelial progenitor cells and about their physiologic role in renovation of vessel wall let us to start searching of new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of this disease. Mechanisms of therapeutic effects of stem cells are currently not fully understood. Some researchers note paracrine influence as the main therapeutic factor. However, most still adhere to the hypothesis of the differentiation of progenitor cells in the «target» tissues. This differentiation leads to the restoration of the damaged endothelial lining of blood vessels. Ambiguous is also the approach to the identification of endothelial progenitor cells. The main way is to study the expression of cell surface markers. The greatest recognition of other acquired early hematopoietic progenitor markers and receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor. The composition of the markers on the surface of endothelial progenitor cells and hematopoietic stem cells suggests the relationship of the hematopoietic system with reparative processes in the body. Widely studied and recognized as promising the morphogenetic approach in the treatment of atherosclerosis, a key component of which is the activation of regenerative processes in the endothelium.