title: Markers of endothelial damage and repair in Takayasu arteritis: are they associated with disease activity?
abstract: The current clinical and laboratory parameters of Takayasu arteritis (TA) are insufficient for proper assessment of disease activity. The aims of this study were to investigate the markers of endothelial injury and repair, including circulating endothelial cell (CEC), circulating endothelial progenitor cell (CEPC) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and evaluate their associations with disease activity in patients with TA. Thirty-two patients with TA and 30 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were included in this study. Disease activity was assessed in TA patients using various tools, including Kerr's criteria, the Indian Takayasu's Arteritis Scoring (ITAS2010) and physician's global assessment (PGA). CECs and CEPCs were measured by flow cytometry, and VEGF was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The CEC level was found to be higher in TA patients than in the healthy controls (HC) (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in CEC level between the active and inactive patients, but its level was slightly correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) level. CEPC and VEGF levels in TA patients with active disease were higher than those in the inactive patients and HC. CEPC and VEGF levels were positively correlated with ITAS-CRP and PGA scores. This study shows increased level of CEC in patients with TA. It also suggests that the CEPC and VEGF levels may be correlated with disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Ozden
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Piskin
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solmaz
authors.forename: Servet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akar
authors.forename: Aytac
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulcu
authors.forename: Faize
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cakır
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: Nurullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akkoc
authors.forename: Fatos
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Onen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002097:C-Reactive Protein