Dermal dendritic cell population and blood vessels are diminished in the skin of systemic sclerosis patients: relationship with fibrosis degree and disease duration.

Recent studies have suggested that the number of dermal dendritic cells is altered in the skin of patients with scleroderma and that these cells may have an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. There is also a belief that insufficient blood flow to the affected organs may also be responsible for the disease. Our aim was to quantify CD34+ cells, factor XIIIa cells, and blood vessels in the skin of patients with systemic sclerosis and to correlate these data with fibrosis degree and duration of disease. Paraffin-embedded skin sections from patients with systemic sclerosis and from healthy subjects were immunolabelled with antibodies against CD34+ and factor XIIIa. Cells and blood vessels were quantified in the papillary and reticular dermis. Both, the number of CD34+ cells and factor XIIIa cells in the skin of patients with systemic sclerosis were reduced. The reduction of these cell types preceded the appearance of intense fibrosis, suggesting that fibrosis is not responsible of this phenomenon. Blood vessel volume and surface density were also reduced in the skin of systemic sclerosis patients. This reduction was also noted early in the evolution of the disease. Our results suggest that CD34+ cells and factor XIIIa cells may contribute to normal regulation of extracellular matrix assembly. We confirmed the observation that capillary density is diminished in scleroderma skin.

Soluble Flt-1, Placental Growth Factor, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Serum Levels to Differentiate Between Active Lupus Nephritis During Pregnancy and Preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mean serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), and soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1) in pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with inactive disease, active lupus nephritis, and preeclampsia for differential diagnosis between these conditions. METHODS: Pregnant women with SLE, with singleton pregnancies and no other autoimmune diseases, were classified according to disease activity (inactive SLE and active lupus nephritis) and the presence of preeclampsia. Serum samples were collected within 3 weeks of delivery and frozen for subsequent blinded analysis through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: A total of 71 women were included, with 41 classified as having inactive SLE (group 1; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Pregnancy Disease Activity Index [SLEPDAI] score <4), 15 with a diagnosis of active lupus nephritis (group 2, SLEPDAI score ≥4, including renal criteria), and 15 with a diagnosis of preeclampsia (group 3). Patients in group 3 had higher mean levels of sFlt-1 and lower mean levels of PlGF compared to groups 1 and 2, both findings with statistical significance. The sFlt-1:PlGF ratio was also significantly higher in patients with preeclampsia, while mean VEGF levels were higher in pregnant woman with active lupus nephritis compared to patients with preeclampsia or inactive SLE. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of serum VEGF, PlGF, and sFlt-1 levels can differentiate between preeclampsia, inactive SLE, and active lupus nephritis during pregnancy.