INTERRELATIONSHIP OF THE MEDIATOR OF ANGIOGENESIS OF VEGF-A WITH GLUTATHIONE METABOLISM PARAMETERS AND THE CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SYSTEMIC AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES WITH JOINT DAMAGE

Introduction. In systemic autoimmune diseases with joint damage (SADJD), impaired angiogenesis occurs, which plays a key role in the progression of proliferative synovitis and in the development of lesions of the internal organs. Excessive production of vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF-A, the main mediator of angiogenesis, leads to an increase of the inflammatory process.

The objective of the work was to study the relationship of VEGF-A with glutathione metabolism parameters, activity of the process and immune status in systemic autoimmune diseases with joint damage.

Material and methods. 58 patients with systemic autoimmune diseases with joint damage were examined. The comparison group consisted of 45 healthy individuals. The main clinical parameters and rheumatoid factor (RF) were analyzed. To determine the activity of the process, we calculated the indices DAS28 for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and BASDAI for patients with ankylosing spondylarthritis (AS). The activities of the enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPO), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of GSH were determined in erythrocytes.

Results. The level of serum VEGF-A in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases with joint damage was increased more than 30 %, in erythrocytes the concentration of GSH and GPO activity were 2 times lower and almost 2 times lower respectively, and GR activity was reduced by about 20 % compared with donors. A correlation was found between the level of VEGF-A and GR activity (R = 0.579; P = 0.03) in RA patients with moderate activity of the process, and absence of relationship between these parameters and the activity of the process in AS. The activity of both GPO and GR in patients with RF was lower by more than 1.5 times, and SOD activity was twice lower than control. The VEGF-A level in the blood plasma was determined by the method of non-competitive enzyme immunoassay.

Conclusion. The increase in VEGF-A level in the blood plasma of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases with joint damage is most pronounced in RA patients with moderate activity of the process and is associated with the presence of RF. The relationship of VEGF-A and GR activity indicates a special role for this enzyme in the regulation of angiogenesis in RA. 

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