title: Injection of vascular endothelial growth factor into knee joints induces osteoarthritis in mice.
abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disorder affecting circa 2% of the population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  It has been suggested that secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) could play a role in the chain of events leading to OA.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, healthy mice were injected intra-articularly with VEGF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shortly after the administration of VEGF, synovial hyperplasia, increased calcification of the articular cartilage and bone sclerosis were observed. Consequently, cartilage degradation characteristic of OA was found. These changes were seen to a lesser degree in the opposite knees of VEGF-injected mice and did not occur in the control mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest an active role of VEGF in the pathogenesis of OA and render support to a possible role for subchondral bone sclerosis in the pathogenesis of cartilage degradation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ludin
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sela
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Samuni
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Nitzan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology; D006614:Hindlimb; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D012598:Sclerosis; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A