Increased plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with atopic dermatitis and its relation

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Inflammation Research

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

Increased plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with atopic dermatitis and its relation to disease severity and platelet activation E. Koczy-Baron • J. Jochem • A. Kasperska-Zajac

Received: 30 April 2012 / Revised: 15 July 2012 / Accepted: 31 July 2012 Ó The Author(s) 2012. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com

Abstract Background Overproduction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in atopic dermatitis (AD) lesions has previously been observed. It is also known that platelet is an important source of VEGF and platelet factor 4 (PF-4), a potential marker of AD severity. Aim To evaluate concentrations of VEGF and its soluble receptors (sVEGF-R1 and sVEGF-R2) in the plasma of AD patients and to examine its possible correlation with disease severity and plasma concentrations of PF-4, a platelet activation marker. Methods Plasma concentrations of VEGF and its receptors and levels of PF-4 were measured by an immunoenzymatic assay in 51 AD patients and in 35 healthy non-atopic controls. The severity of the disease was evaluated using the eczema area and severity index. Results AD patients showed significantly increased VEGF and PF-4 plasma concentrations as compared with the controls. Plasma concentrations of sVEGF-R1 and sVEGF-R2 did not differ between the groups. There were no remarkable correlations between plasma VEGF

Responsible Editor: Andras Falus. A. Kasperska-Zajac (&) Chair and Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Ceglana 35, 40-952 Katowice, Poland e-mail: [email protected] E. Koczy-Baron Department of Dermatology and Venerology in Bytom, Bytom, Poland J. Jochem Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Piekarska 18, 41-902 Bytom, Poland

concentration and disease severity or between VEGF and PF-4 concentration. Conclusions This study shows that plasma concentration of VEGF may be increased in patients suffering from AD. It seems that plasma VEGF concentration is not a useful marker of disease severity and, apart from platelets, other cells might also release the cytokine. Keywords Atopic dermatitis  Platelet-poor plasma  Vascular endothelial growth factor  Platelet activation

Introduction Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease which results from interaction of skin barrier defects, Th1/Th2 cells dysregulation, and environmental factors. Histologically, it is characterized by dilated vessels and perivascular edema leading to erythema and edema [1]. Interestingly, based on the mouse model of AD, it has been observed that angiogenesis is the major pathologic feature of the disease [2]. It has also been suggested that mast cells in AD may stimulate neoangiogenesis via the release of proangiogenic factors [3]. It is known that the key role in vascular permeability, vasodilation and angiogenesis is played by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [4]. It may also