Evaluation of Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Circulating levels of EPCs in the peripheral blood from subjects. (A) Circulating numbers of EPCs waswere measured in different groups by flow cytometry. (B) Percentage of circulating CD34＋/CD309＋ cells in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms compared to age-matched con-trols. *p<0.05, vs. Con. #p<0.05, vs. AAA before EVAR.

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  Fig. 2. Aneurysm formation after peri-adventitial elastase application. (A) Characteristic morphology of the abdominal aorta. (Left) One abdominal aortic aneurysm is shown from the Control group. (Middle) An aorta at the end of 5th week after PPE application. (Right) Morphology of a separated abdominal aorta. (B) Changes in the aortic diameter above baseline and post-operatively. (C) The dilation ratios of the abdominal aorta followed for 5 weeks. An aneurysm was defined as an increase in the aortic diameter by ≥ 50% above baseline. *p<0.05, vs. Con.

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  Fig. 3. Histological sections of abdominal aorta. (A) Hematoxylin and eosin staining of the aorta. (B) Verhoeff-Van Gieson (VVG) staining of elastic fibers in aneurysm sections. (C) Immunofluorescence of abdominal aorta sections labeled with antibodies to detect CD34 (red) and CD309 (green). The white arrow indicates CD34＋/CD309＋ cells colocalizing as orange.

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  Fig. 4. Circulating levels of EPCs in AAA rats. (A) Circulating numbers of EPCs in different groups by flow cytometry. (B) Percentage of circulating CD34＋/CD309＋ cells in rats with abdominal aortic aneurysms compared with controls. *p<0.05, vs. Con.