Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Tear Samples of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, characterized by widespread small vessel vasculopathy, immune dysregulation with production of autoantibodies, and progressive fibrosis. Changes in levels of proangiogenic cytokines had already been determined largely in serum. Our aim was to assess the levels of VEGF in human tears of patients with SSC.


METHODS
Forty-three patients (40 female and 3 men, mean (SD) age 61 (48-74) years) with SSc and 27 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Basal tear sample collection and tear velocity investigations were carried out followed by an ophthalmological examination. Total protein concentrations and VEGF levels were determined in tear samples.


RESULTS
The average collected tear fluid volume developed 10.4 μL (1.6-31.2) in patients and 15.63 μL (3.68-34.5) in control subjects. The average total protein level was 6.9 μg/μL (1.8-12.3) in tears of patients and control tears contained an average of 4.132 μg/μL (0.1-14.1) protein. In patients with SSc the average concentration of VEGF was 4.9 pg/μL (3.5-8.1) and 6.15 pg/μL (3.84-12.3) in healthy samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Total protein production was increased because of the smaller tear volume. Decreased VEGF in tear of SSc patients can be explained also by the decreased tear secretion of patients.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Körút 98, Debrecen 4012, Hungary.
Anikó
A
Rentka
Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó Utca 37-47, Budapest 1094, Hungary.
Jolán
J
Hársfalvi
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Körút 98, Debrecen 4012, Hungary.
András
A
Berta
Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Signaling and Apoptosis Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Research Center of Molecular Medicine, Nagyerdei Körút 98, Debrecen 4012, Hungary.
Krisztina
K
Köröskényi
Department of Rheumatology, Institute of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Körút 98, Debrecen 4012, Hungary.
Zoltán
Z
Szekanecz
Department of Rheumatology, Institute of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Körút 98, Debrecen 4012, Hungary.
Gabriella
G
Szücs
Institute of Immunology, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien 20, 0372 Oslo, Norway.
Peter
P
Szodoray
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Körút 98, Debrecen 4012, Hungary.
Ádám
Á
Kemény-Beke
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism*; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A