Lesiak A, Narbutt J, Kobos J, Kordek R, Sysa-Jedrzejowska A, Norval M, Wozniacka A
Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Clin Exp Dermatol. 2009 Jul;34(5):570-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2008.03006.x. Epub 2008 Dec 10.
Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic cutaneous form of lupus erythematosus, characterized by inflammation and scarring skin lesions, with lymphocyte infiltration and vasodilation. Antimalarial drugs have beneficial therapeutic effects in DLE, partially resulting from their immunomodulating and photoprotective properties. The possible influence of these drugs on angiogenesis has not been previously evaluated.
To investigate the impact of chloroquine (CQ) treatment on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, a major regulator of angiogenesis) and CD34 (a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on endothelial cells and involved in tethering lymphocytes) in patients with DLE.
A 3-mm skin biopsy was taken from typical skin lesions in 10 people with DLE. Another biopsy was taken from the same area after 3 months of treatment with CQ (250 mg/day). Skin sections were stained with monoclonal antibodies directed against VEGF and CD34. The intensity of epidermal VEGF expression, and the number and area of CD34-positive dermal blood vessels were assessed.
CQ treatment induced a reduction in epidermal VEGF expression. It also resulted in a significant decrease in the median number of CD34+ dermal blood vessels (from 219 to 125 vessels per mm(2)). Furthermore the median vessel area was significantly lowered from 9.76 x 10(6) to 6.92 x 10(6) mm(2) per mm(2) of the dermis.
These results indicate that one beneficial effect of CQ treatment in DLE may be due to its antiangiogenic properties.
盘状红斑狼疮（DLE）是红斑狼疮的一种慢性皮肤形式，其特征为皮肤炎症和瘢痕形成病变，伴有淋巴细胞浸润和血管扩张。抗疟药物在DLE中具有有益的治疗效果，部分原因是其免疫调节和光保护特性。这些药物对血管生成的可能影响此前尚未评估。
研究氯喹（CQ）治疗对DLE患者血管内皮生长因子（VEGF，血管生成的主要调节因子）和CD34（一种在内皮细胞上表达且参与淋巴细胞锚定的跨膜糖蛋白）表达的影响。
从10例DLE患者的典型皮肤病变处取3毫米皮肤活检组织。在用CQ（250毫克/天）治疗3个月后，从同一区域再取一次活检组织。皮肤切片用针对VEGF和CD34的单克隆抗体染色。评估表皮VEGF表达强度以及CD34阳性真皮血管的数量和面积。
CQ治疗导致表皮VEGF表达降低。它还使CD34 +真皮血管的中位数显著减少（从每平方毫米219条血管降至125条血管）。此外，真皮每平方毫米的血管中位数面积从9.76×10⁶降至6.92×10⁶平方毫米。
这些结果表明，CQ治疗DLE的一个有益效果可能归因于其抗血管生成特性。
