To detect the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with osteoarthritis and investigate their roles in the synovial lesions of osteoarthritis.
The expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF in the synovium were detected by immunohistochemical staining in 30 osteoarthritis cases, 20 acute traumatic arthritis cases and 10 normal synovial biopsy samples. The correlation between HIF-1α and VEGF, and their relationships with osteoarthritis were analyzed.
The rates of positive expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in osteoarthritis cases were significantly higher than those in acute traumatic arthritis (86.7% vs 60% and 80% vs 48%, P<0.05). Normal human synovium showed no positive expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF. HIF-1α expression was positively correlated to VEGF expression in acute traumatic synovitis and osteoarthritis cases, with correlation coefficients of 0.666 and 0.678, respectively.
The expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF in the synovial tissue are significantly higher in osteoarthritis cases than in cases of acute traumatic arthritis. They have close relationship in the synovial lesions of osteoarthritis and both contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.