title: Potential role of soluble angiopoietin-2 and Tie-2 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece. ktjohn@her.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Koutroubakis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xidakis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karmiris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sfiridaki
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kandidaki
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kouroumalis
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D015415:Biomarkers; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2