The Role of South Asian vs European Origins on Circulating Regenerative Cell Exhaustion

Individuals of South Asian origins have been reported to be at higher risk of ischemic heart disease than those of European origins. While differential morphometries and culturally related behavioural habits are believed to account in part for the difference, there is growing evidence that cardiometabolic risk factors can accelerate pro-vascular progenitor cell depletion and dysfunction. The cumulative effects that aberrant regenerative cell exhaustion (RCE) have on vessel repair accordingly increases the risk of atherothrombotic events. ORIGINS-RCE is an observational, cross-sectional, two-arm study that will evaluate the progenitor cell profiles of peripheral blood samples from 120 individuals (60 of South Asian origins, 60 of European origins). The working hypothesis is that individuals of South Asian and European origins have innately different progenitor profiles that can be further altered by behavioural/cultural habits. The resultant differences in RCE capability will affect the balance between pro-inflammatory and vessel repair functions that in turn contribute to the contrasting cardiometabolic risks exhibited between the two study cohorts.