Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42067750›Full record

ArticleClinical rheumatology2026

The role of CD34-high endothelial cells and FGF2 in vasa vasorum angiogenesis of Takayasu arteritis.

Taotao Li, Cong Wang, Junming Zhu, Haiou Hu, Zhiyu Qiao, Bokang Qiao, Wei Cui, Limin Zhao, Lili Pan, Na Gao

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Article in Clinical rheumatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Taotao LiDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China.
Cong WangDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China.
Junming ZhuDepartment of cardiovascular surgery , Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China.
Haiou HuDepartment of cardiovascular surgery , Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China.
Zhiyu QiaoDepartment of cardiovascular surgery , Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China.
Bokang QiaoBeijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Vessel Disease, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China.
Wei CuiBeijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Vessel Disease, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China.
Limin ZhaoBeijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Vessel Disease, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China.
Lili PanDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China. lilypansxmu@sina.com.
Na GaoDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China. gaona1230@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1831-8354

Funding

Beijing Anzhen Hospital High Level Research Funding Grant No. 2025AZB6002).Beijing Anzhen Hospital High Level Research Funding Grant No. 2025AZD3001National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant No. 82270427
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the role of CD34-high endothelial cells (CD34hi_ECs) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) signaling in the pathological vasa vasorum angiogenesis and inflammatory progression of Takayasu arteritis (TAK).

methodsSingle-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and immunohistochemical analyses of aortic walls from three TAK patients and three controls were performed to evaluate CD34hi_ECs and FGF2 expression. Serum cytokines from 48 TAK patients and 24 healthy controls were measured by cytometric bead array.

resultsScRNA-seq of human aortic tissues revealed a marked expansion of CD34hi_ECs in TAK lesions (97.6% vs. 2.4% in controls; p < 0.001). CD34hi_ECs exhibited enrichment in biological processes related to vascular remodeling, leukocyte adhesion, and the MAPK signaling pathway. Serum FGF2 levels were significantly elevated in TAK patients and positively correlated with multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines, including G-CSF, CCL2, IL-6, IL-17, and IFN-γ. ScRNA-seq and immunohistochemistry identified selective overexpression of FGF2 in vasa vasorum endothelial cells in TAK, accompanied by upregulated FGFR1 expression and increased expression of genes associated with the downstream MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in CD34hi_ECs.

conclusionsThis study demonstrates that CD34hi_ECs are markedly expanded in the aortic wall of TAK patients and enriched in angiogenesis-related processes. FGF2 is selectively overexpressed in vasa vasorum endothelial cells, accompanied by enhanced FGFR1, MAPK, and PI3K pathway gene expression in CD34hi_ECs, suggesting that the FGF2-FGFR1 axis may mediate pathological angiogenesis in TAK. Key Points • In TAK patients, a distinct subset of CD34hi_ECs endothelial cells was identified in aortic tissue, with biological processes predominantly enriched in angiogenesis-related pathways. • Serum and aortic tissue levels of FGF2 were significantly elevated in TAK patients compared to controls, with FGF2 primarily localized around the vasa vasorum in tissue samples. • FGFR1 and genes involved in the downstream MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways were upregulated in CD34hi_ECs.

Indexed as

Antigens, CD34Endothelial CellsFibroblast Growth Factor 2Neovascularization, PathologicTakayasu ArteritisVasa VasorumAdultAortaCase-Control StudiesCytokinesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedReceptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1Signal TransductionAntigens, CD34CytokinesFGFR1 protein, humanFibroblast Growth Factor 2Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1Endothelial cellsFibroblast growth factor-2Takayasu ArteritisVasa Vasorum

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.