Association of Acroosteolysis With Enhanced Osteoclastogenesis and Higher Blood Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Systemic Sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Bone resorption of distal phalanges, or acroosteolysis (AO), can develop in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), causing pain and functional limitation. This study was undertaken to investigate whether AO may be associated with abnormal osteoclastogenesis in SSc patients and whether hypoxia may be involved in this process.

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 26 SSc patients (11 with AO and 15 without AO) and 14 healthy controls were cultured in the presence of RANKL and macrophage colony-stimulating factor for 9 days. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) containing 3 or more nuclei were counted as osteoclasts. Plasma levels and effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on osteoclas

SUBMITTER: Park JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4690758 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature