Increased concentrations of the circulating angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin in patients with systemic sclerosis

Abstract

Objective. Endostatin is an angiogenesis inhibitor derived from type XVIII collagen. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of circulating en-dostatin in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and to assess the relationship between these concentrations, extension of tissular sclerosis, and presence of cutane-ous scars or ulcers. Methods. The study involved 50 patients with SSc and 30 healthy subjects. Cutaneous extension of sclerosis was graded according to Barnett's classification system: 33 patients had grade I SSc and 17 patients had grades II or III SSc. The results of pulmonary function tests were abnormal in 31 of 50 patients, 8 of whom also had abnormalities on chest radiograms. Cutaneous scars or ulcers were found in 22 of 50 patients. Endosta-tin concentrations were determined using a competitive enzyme immunoassay method. Results. The mean circulating endostatin concentration was significantly higher in the SSc group than in the healthy subjects group (mean SD 53.2 22.4 ng/ml versus 9.9 9.7 ng/ml; P < 10-4), in patients with grade II or grade III SSc than in patients with grade I SSc (63.2 20.2 ng/ml versus 45.1 15.6 ng/ml; P < 10-2), in patients with abnormal findings on chest radiograms than in patients with normal findings on chest radiograms (67.6 22.4 ng/ml versus 50.4 21.6 ng/ml; P < 0.05), and in patients with cutaneous scars or ulcers than in patients without these manifestations (60.9 25.9 ng/ml versus 47.2 13.3 ng/ml; P < 10-2). Conclusion. Circulating endostatin concentrations are significantly increased in patients with SSc.

High serum endostatin levels in Down syndrome: implications for improved treatment and prevention of solid tumours

“…High serum endostatin levels in Down syndrome TS Zorick et algreater than the normal subject controls, whereas in our study the increase in circulating endostatin in DS was much more modest. 19 Despite the potential caveats, we believe that confirmation of a role for elevated serum endostatin levels as a protective agent for the lifelong development of solid tumours may lead to further advances in the understanding of endostatin antitumour activity and to improvement in cancer treatment.…”

“…High levels of circulating endostatin have been found in patients with Systemic Sclerosis, but it is still unclear if increased endostatin production is primary or secondary to the vascular injuries responsible for this condition. 19 However, the elevated levels of endostatin found to associate with Systemic Sclerosis were five times Figure 1 Endostatin serum levels in DS patients (D) and control subjects (C), which were determined through ELISA using a commercially available assay (Accucyte, Cytimmune Sciences, Inc., College Park, MD, USA). Dark horizontal bar represents the mean of endostatin levels; grey horizontal bar represents the standard deviation of endostatin values.…”

Antiangiogenic plasma activity in patients with systemic sclerosis

“…Several studies have demonstrated angiogenesis-related abnormalities, including decreased monocyte-mediated angiogenesis (35) and the presence of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors in SSc serum (36), including increased levels of circulating endostatin (37,38). At the same time, SSc serum was reported to enhance the angiogenic capability of circulating mononuclear cells (39).…”

Effects of the C-terminal of endostatin on the tumorigenic potential of H22 cells

“…A number of physiological functions of endostatin have been identified. The endostatin levels are elevated in certain types of cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis (15) and diabetic retinopathy (16). Platelets were shown to sequester endostatin (17) for later release, e.g., to modulate wound healing.…”