210 - Angiogenic T cells as predictive markers of early vascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis in chronic kidney disease (ID 656)
Abstract
Background and Aims
Early cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major unmet need. Angiogenic T-cells (Tang) are emerging mediators of vascular homeostasis and have been linked to CVD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of circulating Tang in CKD and their potential value as biomarkers.
Methods
Tang were quantified by flow cytometry in blood samples from 30 patients CKD-5D undergoing peritoneal dialysis and 16 matched healthy controls (HC). Vascular calcification was measured by Kauppila scores, left carotid IMT was quantified by ultrasound and carotid adventitial vasa vasorum (aVV) were quantified by Superb Microvascular Image. PWV was measured using the Complior Analyzer. The SCORE chart was used to quantify the traditional 10-year risk.
Results
Tang frequency was decreased in CKD compared to HC (1.68(1.05) vs 3.33(1.44)%, p<0.001). Tang were not associated with blood pressure, cholesterol levels or time on dialysis (all p>0.050). CKD patients exhibited higher Kauppila scores (p<0.001), left cIMT (p=0.010) and aVV (p=0.008) than HC. Although Tang did not correlate with Kauppila (r=-0.350, p=0.080) or cIMT (r=-0.154, p=0.600) in CKD-5D, a strong association was observed with PWV (r=-0.734, p<0.001). Moreover, Tang levels were negatively associated with aVV density (newly formed aVV: r=-0.640, p=0.006; or density: r=-0.813, p<0.001). Tang levels paralleled PWV (B[95% CI]: -0.083[-0.155, -0.010], p=0.028; R2=0.531) and aVV: -15.049[-26.705, -3.392], p=0.015; R2=0.598) and improved the model over the SCORE alone (R2=0.360 and R2=0.336, respectively)
Conclusions
Tang were decreased in CKD and could be considered as biomarkers of vascular dysfunction and very early atherosclerosis stage.
