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  • Title: Selective up-regulation of the soluble pattern-recognition receptor pentraxin 3 and of vascular endothelial growth factor in giant cell arteritis: relevance for recent optic nerve ischemia.
    Author: Baldini M, Maugeri N, Ramirez GA, Giacomassi C, Castiglioni A, Prieto-González S, Corbera-Bellalta M, Di Comite G, Papa I, Dell'antonio G, Ammirati E, Cuccovillo I, Vecchio V, Mantovani A, Rovere-Querini P, Sabbadini MG, Cid MC, Manfredi AA.
    Journal: Arthritis Rheum; 2012 Mar; 64(3):854-65. PubMed ID: 21989653.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To assess local expression and plasma levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). METHODS: Plasma and serum samples were obtained from 75 patients with GCA (20 of whom had experienced optic nerve ischemia in the previous 3 weeks and 24 of whom had experienced symptom onset in the previous 6 months and had no history of optic nerve ischemia) and 63 controls (35 age-matched healthy subjects, 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 13 patients with chronic stable angina). In 9 patients in whom GCA was recently diagnosed, circulating levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, CCL2/monocyte chemotactic protein 1, CCL3/macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP-1α), CCL4/MIP-1β, CCL11/eotaxin, CXCL9/monokine induced by interferon-γ, CXCL10/interferon-γ-inducible 10-kd protein, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interferon-γ, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and FasL were measured via a multiplexed cytometric assay. PTX3 and VEGF concentrations were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. PTX3 and CD68 expression were determined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence on temporal artery samples. RESULTS: GCA patients with very recent optic nerve ischemia had significantly higher PTX3 and VEGF levels compared to other GCA patients and controls. GCA patients with a disease duration of <6 months had significantly higher PTX3 levels compared to other GCA patients and controls. Immunohistochemistry revealed selective PTX3 expression in the wall of inflamed arteries. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that local expression of PTX3 is a feature of vascular inflammation in GCA; elevated circulating levels of PTX3 identify patients with very recent optic nerve ischemia or a recent diagnosis. Optic nerve ischemia is also associated with increased circulating VEGF levels.
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