Potential role of soluble angiopoietin-2 and Tie-2 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
BACKGROUND
Angiogenesis has been suggested to play an important role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum markers of angiogenesis angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and soluble angiopoietin receptor Tie-2 in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD).


METHODS
Serum Ang-2 and Tie-2 serum levels were measured in 160 IBD patients (79 UC and 81 CD) and in 80 matched healthy controls using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Serum Ang-2 and Tie-2 levels were correlated with the disease activity, as well as the type, localization and treatment of the disease.


RESULTS
Median serum Ang-2 and Tie-2 levels were significantly higher in both the UC patients and the CD patients compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). The IBD patients with early disease (diagnosis < 2 years) had significantly higher (P = 0.04) median serum Ang-2 levels but significantly lower (P = 0.02) median serum Tie-2 levels as compared with IBD patients with late disease (diagnosis > 2 years). The CD patients with active disease had significantly higher levels of Ang-2 compared with non-active disease (P = 0.02). Serum levels of both Ang-2 and Tie-2 were not correlated with laboratory markers such as ESR, CRP, white blood cell count, platelet count and albumin.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum Ang-2 and Tie-2 levels are elevated in patients with IBD. These markers may mediate angiogenesis and vascular permeability in the mucosa of patients with IBD.
Koutroubakis
I E
IE
Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece. ktjohn@her.forthnet.gr
Xidakis
C
C
Karmiris
K
K
Sfiridaki
A
A
Kandidaki
E
E
Kouroumalis
E A
EA
D000328:Adult; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood; D003106:Colon / Q000098:blood supply; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000098:blood supply; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2 / Q000097:blood*; D012007:Rectum / Q000098:blood supply
D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D015415:Biomarkers; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2