Analysis of correlations between selected endothelial cell activation markers, disease activity, and nailfold capillaroscopy microvascular changes in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between selected serum endothelial cell activation markers such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), soluble thrombomodulin (sTM), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), disease activity, and microvascular changes determined by nailfold capillaroscopy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Serum levels of VEGF, ET-1, sTM, and sE-selectin were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 80 SLE patients. The disease activity was measured with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index score. Nailfold capillaroscopy was performed in all patients. Positive correlation was found between VEGF and both ET-1 (r = 0.294, p < 0.01) and sE-selectin (r = 0.274, p < 0.05) serum levels as well as between sTM and ET-1 (r = 0.273, p < 0.05) serum concentrations. We noticed also positive correlation between VEGF (r = 0.224, p < 0.05) and ET-1 (r = 0.471, p < 0.001) serum levels and disease activity, and also between VEGF serum concentration and grade of morphological changes observed by nailfold capillaroscopy (r = 0.458, p < 0.001). There was also positive correlation between capillaroscopic score and disease activity (r = 0.339, p < 0.01). Our data suggest that correlation between VEGF and both ET-1 and E-selectin serum levels as well as between sTM and ET-1 serum concentrations may reflect their participation in the pathogenesis of SLE. VEGF seems to reflect changes in microcirculation in the course of SLE, visualised by nailfold capillaroscopy. The relationship between changes in nailfold capillaroscopy, endothelial cell activation markers, and the clinical activity of SLE points to an important role of microvascular abnormalities in the clinical manifestation of the disease.

Trichoscopic signs in systemic lupus erythematosus: a comparative study with 109 patients and 305 healthy controls

“…36 Nailfold microvasculature in SLE is similarly enlarged and tortuous, 37 and appear to have positive correlation with serum vascular endothelial growth factor concentration. 38 Other significant trichoscopic signs were black dots, brown scattered pigmentation and blue-grey speckled pigmentation. Black dots are residues of destroyed and broken shafts in hair follicle at scalp level, often occur when there is increased hair fragility.…”

Obesity and Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Particular Challenge in Pregnancy

“…104, 105 Ciołkiewicz, et al found significantly increased concentrations of ET-1 in patients with active SLE. 104 In another study the authors postulated a correlation between enhanced ET-1 levels and Lupus disease activity, measured by SLEDAI score. 105 Atsumi, et al found increased levels of ET-1 in patients with arterial thrombosis, but not in venous thrombosis, suggesting that ET-1 induced by antiphospholipid antibodies might play an important role in altering arterial tone, leading even to occlusion.…”

Neuropilin-1 is upregulated in Sjögren’s syndrome and contributes to pathological neovascularization

“…Several potent pro-angiogenic cytokines have been implicated in inXammatory angiogenesis. Of these, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and its receptors (VEGFRs) have been demonstrated to play a central role in rheumatoid arthritis (Kurosaka et al 2010), systemic lupus erythematosus (Cioikiewicz et al 2010) and multiple sclerosis (Seabrook et al 2010). In the last few years, other molecules, initially found in neurodevelopment, have been found to be involved in angiogenesis and recently also in the immune system and autoimmunity.…”