Clinical significance of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-1, and angiopoietin-2 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical significance of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
The subjects were 70 patients with RA. Serum VEGF, Ang-1, and Ang-2 levels were determined by ELISA. As indices of disease activity, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-3 were examined, and the 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28)-CRP was calculated. Power Doppler ultrasonography was performed in the bilateral wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees and ankles. The synovial blood flow signals were scored using a 3-grade scale (0-2), and the total of the scores in the 10 joints was regarded as the total signal score (TSS).


RESULTS
Serum VEGF level showed significant correlations with serum CRP and MMP-3 levels, DAS28-CRP, and TSS. Serum Ang-1 level showed significant correlations with serum MMP-3 level and DAS28-CRP. Serum Ang-2 level showed significant correlations with serum CRP level and TSS.


CONCLUSIONS
The serum VEGF level is important as an index of the activity of RA based on angiogenesis and a prognostic factor regarding joint destruction. Serum Ang-1 level may be useful as an index of sustained arthritis based on the maintenance of newly formed vessels. Serum Ang-2 level may reflect a state of marked angiogenesis.
Kurosaka
Daitaro
D
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8, Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. d_kurosaka@jikei.ac.jp
Hirai
Kenichiro
K
Nishioka
Makiko
M
Miyamoto
Yukio
Y
Yoshida
Ken
K
Noda
Kentaro
K
Ukichi
Taro
T
Yanagimachi
Maimi
M
Furuya
Kazuhiro
K
Takahashi
Eigo
E
Kingetsu
Isamu
I
Fukuda
Kunihiko
K
Yamada
Akio
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000098:blood supply; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
C467630:ANGPT1 protein, human; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D015415:Biomarkers; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002097:C-Reactive Protein