Lower levels of plasma adiponectin and endothelial progenitor cells are associated with large artery atherosclerotic stroke

BACKGROUND: Both adiponectin and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been proposed recently with anti-atherosclerosis effects. However, their impacts on vascular outcomes in patients with large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adiponectin, EPCs and stroke with a case-control design. METHODS: The study cohort included 127 patients (61.3 ± 11.0 years; 73.2% men) with LAA stroke and 58 control subjects (60.9 ± 9.2 years; 70.7% men) referred for adiponectin and EPCs levels testing. We collected demographic, clinical, angiographical features, and laboratory data. Influence of adiponectin and EPCs levels on cerebral atherosclerosis and LAA stroke was analyzed with regression models. RESULTS: The levels of adiponectin and EPCs in atherosclerotic stroke patients were significantly lower compared with matched controls (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified that reduced levels of adiponectin and EPCs were closely correlated with cerebral atherosclerosis and LAA stroke. The associations remained significant after adjustment for age, sex and other confounders. Additionally, partial correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association between adiponectin and three subpopulations of EPCs levels (CD34(+)CD133(+)CD309(+)cells: r = 0.510, p = 0.001; CD34(+) CD133(-)CD309(+)cells: r = 0.262, p = 0.004; CD34(-)CD133(+)CD309(+)cells: r = 0.348, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin is positively correlated with EPCs levels, and both of them are independently associated with LAA stroke.