Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in synovial fibroblasts is induced by hypoxia and interleukin 1beta.

Abstract

Under hypoxia or IL-1 stimulation, conditions common to the inflamed synovium, type B synoviocytes secrete increased levels of VEGF, which is likely to act on nearby endothelia, promoting angiogenesis. The constitutive expression of VEGF in rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts may reflect an altered phenotype involved in the pathology of RA.