SYSTEMIC-SCLEROSIS STIMULATES ANGIOGENESIS IN THE CHICK-EMBRYO CHORIOALLANTOIC MEMBRANE

Skin biopsies from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were investi gated for their angiogenic activity by using the chick embryo chorioal lantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Ten samples of SSc and 10 of normal skin from age-and sex-matched subjects were grafted onto the CAM, and the angiogenic response in pathological and control implants was assessed on histological sections by a planimetric point-count method 4 days af ter grafting. The vascular counts in the area underlying the SSc were significantly higher than those of normal skin and a dense mononuclear cell infiltrate was detectable around the blood vessels in pathologic al specimens. These results suggest that SSc may promote angiogenesis, perhaps leading to the release of several angiogenic factors. Moreove r, the role played in the angiogenic response by the inflammatory cell s forming the cellular infiltrate is suggested by this study.