Fol. Biol. 2008, 54, 73-80
Circulating Endothelial Cells and Circulating Endothelial Progenitors in Kidney Disease – Victims, Witnesses, or Accomplices?
Nephrologists deal with a host of pathologic conditions involving renal and systemic endothelium. Both in native and transplanted kidneys, often the insult to the renal endothelium initiates the pathogenic process ultimately leading to the loss of organ function. Also, systemic atherosclerosis is accelerated in patients with renal dysfunction. In this review we would like to cover the possible role of CECs and their counterparts - circulating EPCs in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction associated with chronic renal failure, ANCA-associated vasculitis, and progression of chronic renal disease.
Keywords
circulating endothelial cell, circulating endothelial progenitor cell, endothelium, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, haemodialysis, end-stage renal disease, kidney transplantation, ANCA-associated vasculitis, angiogenesis, vasculogenesis.
Funding
Supported by the research project of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic MSM0021620807, grant of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic IGA NR 8047/3, and grant from Charles University GA UK 33/2006.
References
Copyright
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
