[Up-regulated expressions of HIF-1α, VEGF and CD34 promote synovial angiogenesis in rats with adjuvant arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the alterations of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD34 in synovial tissues in rats with adjuvant arthritis and explore the mechanism of angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control and model groups. Adjuvant arthritis was induced using Freund's complete adjuvant in the rats of the model group. Nineteen days after the modeling, the expressions of HIF-1α, VEGF and CD34 were detected using immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein levels of HIF-1α and VEGF were detected by reverse transcription PCR and Western blotting, respectively.


RESULTS
Compared with the normal control group, the model group showed paw swelling, increased arthritic index, and significantly up-regulated expressions of VEGF, HIF-1α, CD34 in synovial tissue. VEGF mRNA was positively correlated with paw swelling degree, HIF-1α protein was positively correlated with the arthritis index, and VEGF mRNA and HIF-1α protein were positively correlated with CD34.


CONCLUSIONS
The synovial angiogenesis is associated with the over-expressions of VEGF, HIF-1α and CD34 in rats with adjuvant arthritis.
Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
Xiaojun
X
Zhang
First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
Jian
J
Liu
First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
Lei
L
Wan
First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
Yue
Y
Sun
First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
Fang
F
Wang
Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
Yajun
Y
Qi
First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
Chuanbing
C
Huang
D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D018952:Antigens, CD34; C497444:Hif1a protein, rat; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant