Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-12-17
pubmed:abstractText
Systemic sclerosis (SSc, scleroderma) is a connective tissue disease of unknown etiology. Perivascular inflammatory infiltrates and endothelial apoptosis with an impaired angiogenesis are observed in early stages of the disease, whereas later stages are characterized by an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in the skin and various internal organs. Consistent with the ongoing endothelial cell damage, various markers of endothelial cells such as endothelin-1, sICAM-1, s-VCAM-1 and thrombomodulin are found in high levels in the serum of SSc patients. Surprisingly, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic molecule, is overexpressed in the skin of patients with SSc despite insufficient angiogenesis. Interestingly, patients suffering from diffuse SSc and patients without finger tip ulcers show higher VEGF levels compared to age- and sex-matched controls. These results indicate that a controlled overexpression of VEGF might help to protect against the manifestation of ischemic conditions. On the other hand, data from animal models indicate that a long-term, uncontrolled overexpression of VEGF might have paradox effects on the formation of new vessels leading to capillary changes similar to those observed in SSc. In addition to the impaired angiogenesis, defective vasculogenesis might contribute to the vascular symptoms of SSc.
pubmed:language
ger
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0340-1855
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
63
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
446-50
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
[Vascular changes in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis].
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. Oliver.Distler@usz.ch
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, English Abstract, Review