Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026

An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
Published on: June 6, 2025
Linking systemic angiogenic markers to synovial vascularization in rheumatoid arthritis
Agathe Leblond1, Sonia Pezet1, Anne Priscille Trouvin2
1Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, INSERM U1016 and CNRS UMR8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.
Background:
Neoangiogenesis is a crucial event to promote the development of the hyperplasic proliferative pathologic synovium in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Ultrasound (US) is sensitive for detection of power Doppler (PD) vascularization.
Objective:
To explore the associations between a set of complementary circulating angiogenic markers and a comprehensive US assessment in patients with RA.
Patients And Methods:
Serum levels of eight angiogenic markers were measured by quantitative ELISAs in a total of 125 patients with RA, who were all systematically assessed in parallel by PDUS, performed on 32 joints.
Results:
Serum levels of soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and Tie-2 were more likely to be increased in patients with synovial hyperemia detected on at least one joint (Power Doppler grade ≥1). sVCAM-1, Tie-2 and Angiostatin concentrations gradually increased together with the grade of the semiquantitative PDUS scale and concentrations of these three markers were markedly increased in patients with moderate to marked hyperemia (Power Doppler grade 2 and 3). Levels of sVCAM-1, Tie-2, and Angiostatin correlated with a global arthritis sum score, defined by the sum of the semiquantitative PDUS scores for all joints examined. Levels of Tie-2 and Placenta Growth Factor (PlGF) were associated with PDUS features indicating residual disease activity.
Conclusion:
Our results support the relevance of measuring serum levels of vascular markers to evaluate the intensity and extent of synovial vascularization. Angiogenic markers, and particularly Tie-2, could be a valuable surrogate of active synovitis and their place in relation to PDUS in clinical practice deserve further investigation.
More Related Videos
09:31Generation of Induced-pluripotent Stem Cells Using Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes Isolated from Joints of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Published on: October 16, 2016
09:18Author Spotlight: Isolation and Culture of Primary Synovial Macrophages and Fibroblasts from Murine Arthritis Tissue
Published on: February 24, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Seedless Vascular Plants
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein....
Structural Joints: Synovial Joints
X-linked Traits
Development of the Limb Synovial Joints
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
Sex-linked Disorders