Accumulation of VEGFR-2+/CD133+ cells and decreased number and impaired functionality of CD34+/VEGFR-2+ cells in patients with SLE

Abstract

Our results suggest that the mobilization of progenitor cells is unaffected in SLE, but the diminished number and the altered functionality of circulating CD34(+)/VEGFR-2(+) cells reduce the ability to repair vascular damage and thus may trigger the development of atherosclerosis in SLE.