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Citations to this article

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) increase endothelial progenitor cells via the PI 3-kinase/Akt pathway
Stefanie Dimmeler, … , Hans Martin, Andreas M. Zeiher
Stefanie Dimmeler, … , Hans Martin, Andreas M. Zeiher
Published August 1, 2001
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2001;108(3):391-397. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI13152.
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HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) increase endothelial progenitor cells via the PI 3-kinase/Akt pathway

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Abstract

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been developed as lipid-lowering drugs and are well established to reduce morbidity and mortality from coronary artery disease. Here we demonstrate that statins potently augment endothelial progenitor cell differentiation in mononuclear cells and CD34-positive hematopoietic stem cells isolated from peripheral blood. Moreover, treatment of mice with statins increased c-kit+/Sca-1+–positive hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow and further elevated the number of differentiated endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Statins induce EPC differentiation via the PI 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway as demonstrated by the inhibitory effect of pharmacological PI3K blockers or overexpression of a dominant negative Akt construct. Similarly, the potent angiogenic growth factor VEGF requires Akt to augment EPC numbers, suggesting an essential role for Akt in regulating hematopoietic progenitor cell differentiation. Given that statins are at least as potent as VEGF in increasing EPC differentiation, augmentation of circulating EPC might importantly contribute to the well-established beneficial effects of statins in patients with coronary artery disease.

Authors

Stefanie Dimmeler, Alexandra Aicher, Mariuca Vasa, Christiane Mildner-Rihm, Klaudia Adler, Michaela Tiemann, Hartmut Rütten, Stephan Fichtlscherer, Hans Martin, Andreas M. Zeiher

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Year: 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Total
Citations: 3 5 1 10 12 8 9 11 8 9 13 16 22 24 22 26 32 22 12 8 11 11 2 2 1 300
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Citations to this article in year 2024 (5)

Title and authors Publication Year
The role of cardiac microenvironment in cardiovascular diseases: implications for therapy.
Yao J, Chen Y, Huang Y, Sun X, Shi X, Yao J, Chen Y, Huang Y, Sun X, Shi X
Human Cell 2024
Statins in Mitigating Anticancer Treatment-Related Cardiovascular Disease
Jiang R, Lou L, Shi W, Chen Y, Fu Z, Liu S, Sok T, Li Z, Zhang X, Yang J
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024
Tilianin attenuates inflammasome activation in endothelial progenitor cells to mitigate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury
Wang M, Li J, Hu X, Fu M, Li X, Damdinjave D, Xu M, Zheng R, Xing J
PLOS ONE 2024
The effect of empagliflozin on circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with diabetes and stable coronary artery disease.
Hershenson R, Nardi-Agmon I, Leshem-Lev D, Kornowski R, Eisen A
Cardiovascular diabetology 2024
ROS-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis
Yan R, Zhang X, Xu W, Li J, Sun Y, Cui S, Xu R, Li W, Jiao L, Wang T
Aging and Disease 2024

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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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