Circulating endothelial and progenitor cells: Evidence from acute and long-term exercise effects

Table 5 Acute effects of exercise in different disease populations

Subjects	n	Study group; age (yr)	Disease	Modality	Exercise prescription	Duration	Results	Ref.
Men	37	Young group (n = 9), mean age 33; Old group (n = 13), mean age 66; PAD group (n = 15), mean age 69	PAD	Treadmill	Young group bruce protocol; Old group gardner protocol; PAD group gardner protocol	Young group until exhaustion or 15 min; Old group 10 min; PAD group symptom limited or 10 min	Young group ↑ EPCs; Old group no change; PAD group no change	[130]
Male (n = 41); Female (n = 13)	54	Healthy controls (n = 13) 55.7 ± 1.6; Mild CHF (n = 22) 61.9 ± 2.5; Severe CHF (n = 19) 63 ± 2.6	CHF	Bicycle ergometer	Cardiopulmonary exercise testing individualized ramp protocol	8-10 min	EPC no change; Improved CAC migration in mild CHF + severe CHF	[131]
Male (n = 13); Female (n = 2)	15	Young group (n = 4) mean age 33; Old group (n = 4) mean age 66; CHF group (n = 7) mean age 69	CHF II/III	Bicycle ergometer	Symptom-limited graded exercise test		↑EPCs in young group; ↑EPCs in old group; Non significant ↑EPCs in CHF group	[132]

EPC: Endothelial progenitor cell; CHF: Chronic heart failure; CAC: Circulating angiogenic cell; PAD: Peripheral arterial disease.