title: Vascular endothelial growth factor activities on osteoarthritic chondrocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the role of VEGF in cartilage pathophysiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  VEGF release from chondrocytes in the presence of IL-1beta, TGFbeta and IL-10 was detected by immunoassay. VEGF receptor -1 and -2 expression and VEGF ability to modulate caspase -3 and cathepsin B expression were detected by immunohistochemistry on cartilage biopsies and cartilage explants. VEGF effects on chondrocyte proliferation was analysed by a fluorescent dye that binds nucleic acids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF production by osteoartritis (OA) chondrocytes was significantly reduced by IL-1beta while it was increased in the presence of TGFbeta. Cartilage VEGFR-1 immunostaining was significantly downregulated in 'early' OA patients compared to normal controls (NC). VEGFR-2 expression was negligible both in OA and in NC. VEGF decreased the expression of caspase-3 and cathepsin B, whereas it did not affect proliferation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF is able to down-modulate chondrocyte activities related to catabolic events involved in OA cartilage degradation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Immunologia e Genetica, Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pulsatelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dolzani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frizziero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Facchini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meliconi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D002401:Cathepsin B