Rheumatology 2000; 39: 1255-1262
© 2000 British Society for Rheumatology
Effects of combinations of anti-rheumatic drugs on the production of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in cultured synoviocytes and patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Department of Joint Disease and Rheumatism, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603 and
1 Developmental Research Division, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, 3-9-19, Shimoshinjo, Higashiyodogawa, Osaka 533-8651, Japan
Objective. To examine whether different combinations of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including bucillamine (BUC), gold sodium thiomalate (GST), methotrexate (MTX), salazosulphapyridine (SASP) and dexamethasone (DEX; a steroid), act by inhibiting the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in cultured synoviocytes, causing a decrease in their serum concentrations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods. The VEGF and bFGF concentrations in cultured synoviocytes and peripheral blood from patients with RA were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and their serum concentrations were measured at two time points.
Results. BUC and GST inhibited VEGF production even when given alone, and a combination of BUC, GST and MTX with DEX also inhibited VEGF production. None of the DMARDs or DEX inhibited bFGF production when given alone, but a combination of SASP and GST inhibited the production of bFGF in cultured synoviocytes. Serum VEGF concentrations were significantly decreased 6 months after the commencement of medication compared with their concentrations before medication.
Conclusion Our results show that the effects of a combination of DEX with any two of BUC, GST, SASP and MTX on the production of VEGF and bFGF in cultured synoviocytes and on the serum concentrations of VEGF in patients with RA may be based on synergistic or additive effects of the drugs.
KEY WORDS: Rheumatoid arthritis, Vascular endothelial growth factor, Basic fibroblast growth factor, Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
Correspondence to: M. Nagashima, Department of Joint Disease and Rheumatism, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 1138603, Japan.
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
P. C. Taylor Serum vascular markers and vascular imaging in assessment of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity and response to therapy Rheumatology, June 1, 2005; 44(6): 721 - 728. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. G. Bernier, D. D. Lazarus, E. Clark, B. Doyle, M. T. Labenski, C. D. Thompson, W. F. Westlin, and G. Hannig A methionine aminopeptidase-2 inhibitor, PPI-2458, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis PNAS, July 20, 2004; 101(29): 10768 - 10773. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. M. Gardner and M. E. Olah Distinct Protein Kinase C Isoforms Mediate Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression by A2A Adenosine Receptor Activation and Phorbol Esters in Pheochromocytoma PC12 Cells J. Biol. Chem., April 18, 2003; 278(17): 15421 - 15428. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y. Yanagi, Y. Tamaki, R. Obata, K. Muranaka, N. Homma, H. Matsuoka, and H. Mano Subconjunctival Administration of Bucillamine Suppresses Choroidal Neovascularization in Rat Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., November 1, 2002; 43(11): 3495 - 3499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. A. Klimiuk, S. Sierakowski, R. Latosiewicz, B. Cylwik, J. Skowronski, and J. Chwiecko Serum matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in different histological variants of rheumatoid synovitis Rheumatology, January 1, 2002; 41(1): 78 - 87. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||



