Downregulated GTCPH I/BH4 Pathway and Decreased Function of Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Their Relationship with Endothelial Dysfunction in Overweight Postmenopausal Women

Figure 4

NO, VEGF, GM-CSF, TNF-α, and IL-6 secretion by EPCs were evaluated as follows. (a) NO secretion by EPCs in normal weight and overweight men was similar to that in normal weight and overweight postmenopausal women. The plasma NO level was lower in overweight men and postmenopausal women than in normal weight men and postmenopausal women. There was no significant difference in (b) VEGF or (c) GM-CSF secretion by EPCs among the four groups. There was no significant difference in (d) TNF-α or (e) IL-6 secretion by EPCs among the four groups. Data are given as the mean ± SD. versus normal weight.

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