Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Diabetic Frozen shoulder / 대한정형외과연구학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in diabetic frozen shoulders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We preformed arthroscopic adhesiolysis on 9 diabetic frozen shoulder patients, and observed the arthroscopic findings. Also, we examined the potential role of VEGF by using samples of synovial tissues from 5 patients, and 2 normal synovial tissues. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting were performed using polyclonal antibodies against VEGF. RESULTS: There was hyperemic synovitis in the 9 diabetic frozen shoulder patients. In the 5 patients' tissue samples, there was strong immunostaining and expression to VEGF, but there was little staining and expression in the control group. CONCLUSION: We postulate that VEGF is synthesized and secreted in the synovium of diabetic frozen shoulders and that secreted VEGF binds specific receptors on the endothelial cells of nearby small blood vessels, and leads to the subsequent development of frozen shoulders in diabetic patients.