Transcription and post-transcription of vascular endothelium growth factor in serum synovial fluid and synovial tissue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) in serum,synovial fluid and synovial tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to identify its pathological role in RA.Methods The serum synovial fluid and synovial tissue were obtained from patients with RA and from patients with osteoarthritis (OA),and healthy people were used as control groups.Levels of VEGF protein in serum and synovial fluid were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Expression of VEGF mRNA in synovial tissue was determined by semi quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) and Northern blot.Results Levels of VEGF protein in both serum and synovial fluid of patients with RA were significantly increased compared with control group.In addition the expression of VEGF mRNA in synovial tissue of patients with RA was also significantly increased compared with the two control groups.Conclusion The over expressed VEGF in synovial tissue may induce angiogenesis and play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.