Abstract:

Objective To investigate the expressions of angiopoietin （Ang）-1, -2 and their receptor, Tie-2 in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and their significance. Methods Tissue samples were collected from 30 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 15 normal controls. Streptavidin-biotin complex （SABC） method was used to detect the expression of Ang-1, -2 and Tie-2 in these samples. Microvessel density （MVD） was assessed by CD34 staining. Results The expressions of Ang-2 and Tie-2 were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis vulgaris than in the normal controls （7.65 ± 2.14 vs 2.54 ± 0.91，6.09 ± 1.97 vs 1.95 ± 0.62, both P < 0.01）, and higher in patients with active psoriasis than in those with inactive psoriasis （9.85 ± 2.42 vs 4.86 ± 1.63, 8.43 ± 1.98 vs 4.57 ± 1.92, both P < 0.05）, whereas no significant difference was observed in the expression level of Ang-1 between patients and controls or between patients with active psoriasis and those with inactive psoriasis （all P > 0.05）. Increased MVD was observed in patients with psoriasis vulgaris compared with the controls （15.46 ± 5.28 vs 2.68 ± 0.79, P < 0.01）. Also, the expression levels of Ang-2 and Tie-2 were significantly different between patients with high MVD and those with low MVD （both P < 0.05）, while no difference was noted in the expression of Ang-1 （P > 0.05）. In psoriatic lesions, a negative correlation was observed between the expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2 （r = -0.521, P < 0.05）, and MVD was negatively correlated with the expression of Ang-2 （r = 0.656, P < 0.01） but unrelated to the expression of Ang-1 （r = 0.237, P > 0.05）. Conclusions It is demonstrated that Ang-2 and Tie-2 closely correlate with the angiogenesis in psoriasis, and Ang-2 plays a dominant role in the regulation of angiogenesis in psoriasis.

Key words: Angiogenin