Disturbed balance between serum levels of receptor tyrosine kinases Tie-1, Tie-2 and angiopoietins in systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the characteristic factors for vascular development and maintenance levels as well as correlation between Tie-1 receptors, Tie-2 receptors and the corresponding ligands--angiopoietins--in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

METHODS

Serum levels of Tie-1, Tie-2, Ang-1 and Ang-2 were measured in 25 SSc patients and healthy controls.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference in serum Tie-1 (p = 0.009) and Ang-2 (p = 0.001) levels in SSc patients compared with healthy controls. Significant correlations between Tie-1 and Tie-2 (ρ = 0.70, p = 0.0001) and between Tie-1 and Ang-2 (ρ = -0.92, p = 0.002) were found in the SSc group. Serum levels of Tie-2 were positively associated with esophagus changes (U = 2.03, p = 0.041) and Ang-1 was negatively correlated with duration of Raynaud's phenomenon (ρ = -0.75, p = 0.00008).

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in serum concentration of Tie-1 and Ang-2 in patients with SSc may confirm a molecular imbalance between receptor tyrosine kinases Tie and their ligands.