Angiogenesis, the formation of new vessels, is important in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory diseases. Chemotactic cytokines termed chemokines
mediate the ingress of leukocytes, including neutrophils and monocytes into the inflamed
synovium. In this review, authors discuss the role of the most important angiogenic
factors and angiogenesis inhibitors, as well as relevant chemokines and chemokine
receptors involved in chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases. RA was chosen as a
prototype to discuss these issues, as the majority of studies on the role of angiogenesis
and chemokines in inflammatory diseases were carried out in arthritis. However, other
systemic inflammatory (autoimmune) diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), mixed connective tissue
disease (MCTD), polymyositis/ dermatomyositis (PM/DM) and systemic vasculites are
also discussed in this context. As a number of chemokines may also play a role in
neovascularizaton, this issue is also described here. Apart from discussing the pathogenic
role of angiogenesis and chemokines, authors also review the regulation of angiogenesis
and chemokine production by other inflammatory meditors, as well as the important
relevance of neovascularization and chemokines for antirheumatic intervention.
