Corticosteroids modulate angiogenic soluble factors in ulcerative colitis patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare angiogenic factors in serum levels of active ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and in healthy controls, and to analyze these angiogenic levels depending on the achievement of remission after oral corticosteroid treatment throughout treatment, and according to the Truelove-Witts activity index.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 13 patients receiving oral corticosteroids for treatment of UC flares at three different intervals--baseline, during, and after treatment--and from 26 healthy controls. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1), angiopoietins (Ang) 1 and 2, and its receptor Tie2 were assayed by ELISA.


RESULTS
While VEGF and Ang2 levels in UC patients were higher than in healthy controls (P < 0.05), UC patients showed lower levels of Ang1 than healthy individuals (P < 0.05). In UC patients who achieved clinical remission after corticosteroid treatment, a statistically significant higher baseline serum level of PlGF was observed (22 ± 5 vs. 18 ± 2; P < 0.05). Angiogenic factor levels varied during treatment; however, they did not show a statistically significant correlation to the activity of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF, Ang1, and Ang2 levels showed statistically significant differences between UC patients and healthy controls. Although determination of PlGF serum levels before corticosteroid treatment might be helpful to anticipate the response by UC patients, no angiogenic pattern that could accurately predict "a priori" this response to corticosteroid treatment was observed. Corticosteroids altered temporarily circulating levels of VEGF, angiopoietins and Tie2. No correlation was found between systemic levels of angiogenic factors and the clinical activity of UC.
Pousa
Inés D
ID
Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain.
Algaba
Alicia
A
Linares
Pablo M
PM
Sanz-Cameno
Paloma
P
Maté
José
J
Moreno-Otero
Ricardo
R
Bermejo
Fernando
F
Gisbert
Javier P
JP
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000097:blood*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor