Ab1277 Higher Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Levels Are Prone to Appear in Younger Patients With Takayasu’s Arteritis

Background: Pathogenesis of TAK is still unclear. Multiple immune cells and cytokines participate in TAK. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is a heparin-binding growth factor with multiple functions. It is involved in cell migration and differentiation, developmental processes and angiogenesis. The angiogenic property of FGF2 is to promote proliferation of endothelial cells, mitogenesis of smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. Other physiological roles include inflammation. Objectives: Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) is a rare large vessel vasculitis. The fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2) has angiogenic property. This study aims to investigate expression of FGF2 in TAK patients. Methods: Serum cytokines of 48 patients with TAK and 32 healthy controls were detected using cytokine cytometric bead array. The percentage of T cell subsets of TAK patients were analyzed by flow cytometry analysis. Immunohistochemical staining analysis were used to detect FGF expression in the aortic wall of 3 TAK patients and 3 atherosclerosis patients. Results: Serum level of FGF2 were significantly elevated in patients with TAK compared to controls [40.22 (29.88, 60.01) pg/ml vs. 26.51(21.28, 30.08) pg/ml, p < 0.001].Serum FGF2 level was negatively correlated to age (r = -0.313, p = 0.030),age of TAK onset(r=-0.329, p = 0.023) and positively correlated to cytokines [G-CSF (r = 0.361, p = 0.002), CCL2(r = 0.251, p = 0.034), CCL3(r = 0.572, p < 0.001), IL-4(r = 0.421, p < 0.001), IL-8(r = 0.646, p < 0.001), IL-17(r = 0.812, p < 0.001)Furthermore, we found marked expression of FGF2 was shown in aortic lesions of patients with TAK compared with those of atherosclerosis(5.380% ± 0.986% vs. 0.019% ± 0.012%, P = 0.011). Conclusion: Higher serum FGF2 levels are prone to appear in younger TAK patients with Takayasu's arteritis. FGF2 might be involved in the pathogenesis in TAK. REFERENCES: [1] Tombetti E, Mason JC. Takayasu arteritis: advanced understanding is leading to new horizons. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2019;58:206–219. [2] Beenken A, Mohammadi M. The FGF family: biology, pathophysiology and therapy. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2009;8:235-53. [3] Fukui S, Kuwahara-Takaki A, Ono N, Sato S, Koga T, Kawashiri SY, et al. Serum levels of fibroblast growth factor-2 distinguish Takayasu arteritis from giant cell arteritis independent of age at diagnosis. Sci Rep 2019;9:688. [4] Pulsatelli L, Boiardi L, Assirelli E, Pazzola G, Muratore F, Addimanda O, et al. Imbalance between angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors in sera from patients with large-vessel vasculitis. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2020;38 Suppl 124(2):23-30. [5] Arend WP, Michel BA, Bloch DA, Hunder GG, Calabrese LH, Edworthy SM, et al. The American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of Takayasu arteritis. Arthritis Rheum 1990;33(8):1129-34. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.