This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Robak, E Articles by Robak, T Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Robak, E Articles by Robak, T Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Circulating angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin and positive endothelial growth regulators in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

A Wozániacka

A Sysa-Jedrzejowska

Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Lódz, Lódz, Poland

H Stepien

Department of Experimental Endocrinology, Medical University of Lódz, Lódz, Poland

T Robak

Department of Hematology, Medical University of Lódz, Copernicus Hospital, 93-513 Lódz, ul. Pabianicka 62, Poland.; robaktad{at}csk.am.lodz.pl

Serum concentrations of three angiogenic cytokines: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and antiangiogenic factor endostatin in the serum of 52 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 20 healthy subjects were investigated. The possible association between serum levels of these proteins and SLE activity as well as correlation between the concentrations of angiogenic cytokines and the level of endostatin was also analyzed. VEGF and IL-18 were detectable in all SLE patients and healthy control group. bFGF was measurable in 71.2% of patients with SLE and 65% of healthy persons. Endostatin was detectable in 94.2% of SLE patients and 95% of normal subjects. The serum levels of endostatin and bFGF were not significantly different in SLE and healthy control (P > 0.05). The median concentration of VEGF was higher in active SLE (238.4pg/ml) than in inactive disease (118.1pg/ml, P < 0.05) or in control group (133.5pg/ml, P < 0.04). The median serum level of IL-18 was higher in the SLE patients (595.2pg/ml) than in the control group (252.7pg/ml) (P < 0.001). The correlations between the levels of angiogenic cytokines and endostatin with clinical features, laboratory abnormalities and also with the type of treatment were analysed. We found a positive correlation between VEGF serum concentration and SLE activity according to SLAM score (r=0.275, P < 0.05). The significant positive correlation was also found between IL-18 and endostatin (r=0.289, P < 0.04). In contrast, the correlation between bFGF and endostatin was significantly negative (r=7 0.299, P < 0.04). In conclusion, serum levels of the angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors may play an important role in SLE pathogenesis.

Key Words: angiogenesis • basic fibroblast growth factor • disease activity • endostatin • IL-18 • SLE • vascular endothelial growth factor

Lupus, Vol. 11, No. 6, 348-355 (2002)
DOI: 10.1191/0961203302lu199oa


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N Sakly, P Mirshahi, E Ducros, J Soria, I Ghedira, and M Mirshahi Angiogenic activity in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus Lupus, July 1, 2009; 18(8): 705 - 712. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K Arima, T Origuchi, M Tamai, N Iwanaga, Y Izumi, M Huang, F Tanaka, M Kamachi, K Aratake, H Nakamura, et al. RS3PE syndrome presenting as vascular endothelial growth factor associated disorder Ann Rheum Dis, November 1, 2005; 64(11): 1653 - 1655. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Hirtenlehner, J. Pollheimer, C. Lichtenberger, M. F. Wolschek, H. Zeisler, P. Husslein, and M. Knofler Elevated Serum Concentrations of the Angiogenesis Inhibitor Endostatin in Preeclamptic Women Reproductive Sciences, October 1, 2003; 10(7): 412 - 417. [Abstract] [PDF]