INFLUENCE OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS ON THE LEVELS OF TOLL-LIKE RECEPTORS 2 AND VASCULOENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/mcch.2410-681X.2020.v.i1.11050Keywords:
rheumatoid arthritis, toll-like receptors 2, vasculoendothelial growth factor, cardiovascular risk factorsAbstract
Introduction. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease with high prevalence and disability rates. Cardiovascular pathology is one of the most frequent comorbid pathologies in RA patients. Activation of angiogenesis in the synovium plays a key role in pathogenetic mechanism of RA. Cardiovascular pathology сan influence on inflammatory and angiogenic processes with the participation of toll-like receptors 2 (TLR2) and vasculoendothelial growth factor (VEGF).
The aim of the study – to determine the effect of cardiovascular risk factors on the level of TLR2 and VEGF in the blood of RA patients.
Research Methods. In the study 67 patients with RA (73.1 % women), aged (45.2±8.75) years and 25 healthy controls age-matched were enrolled. The diagnosis of RA was established by ACR/EULAR criteria 2010. Serum TLR2 and VEGF levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay (Cloud-Clone Corp., USA). The study was conducted in compliance with bioethical standards. Statistical processing of the results was performed in the STATISTICA 6.0 package.
Results and Discussion. In RA patients, TLR2 and VEGF levels were significantly 2.78 and 2.69-times higher, respectively (p<0.001) than in the control group. In patients with DAS28-ESR >5.1, TLR2 and VEGF levels were higher (1.3-1.4 times) than in patients with moderate disease activity (DAS28-ESR 3.2-5.1). Among the seropositive by ACCP subjects, levels of TLR2 were significantly higher. Increased levels of TLR2 and VEGF in RA patients were associated with concomitant hypertension and obesity, though no connection with age, gender, dyslipidemia, and smoking was found.
Conclusions. Among RA patients serum levels of TLR2 and VEGF were higher, compared to the control. Increasing of TLR2 level associated with seropositivity by ACCP and high disease activity, and VEGF elevation associated with comorbid arterial hypertension and high body mass index.
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