# Increased Expression of Angiopoietin 2 and Tie2 in Rosacea

## TL;DR

This study shows that rosacea skin has higher levels of Angiopoietin 2 and Tie2, suggesting unstable blood vessels due to imbalanced vessel control.

## Contribution

The study identifies elevated Angiopoietin 2 and Tie2 in rosacea, linking them to vascular instability in the disease.

## Key findings

- Tie2 and Angiopoietin 2 expression was significantly higher in rosacea lesional skin compared to non-lesional skin.
- Angiopoietin 1 and phosphorylated Tie2 levels were similar in lesional and non-lesional skin.
- The findings suggest vascular instability in rosacea is due to imbalanced Angiopoietin 2 and Tie2 signaling.

## Abstract

Rosacea, a common skin disease causing facial redness and visible blood vessels, is believed to be linked to defective blood vessel control. In this study we found in rosacea skin elevated levels of the proteins Angiopoietin 2 and Tie2, which are involved in blood vessel growth and behavior. These findings suggest that the problem in rosacea might be an imbalance and dysfunction in existing vessel controls, leading to the unstable blood vessels seen in this disease.

In this study we evaluated the expression of Angiopoietin 1, Angiopoietin 2, and Tie2 by immunohistochemistry in the skin of 10 patients with erythemato telangiectatic and papulopustular rosacea. Significantly increased expression of Tie2 and Angiopoietin 2 in the endothelial cells of the dermal vessels in rosacea skin vs. non-lesional skin (100% and 33.3% for Tie2, and 100% and 50% for Angiopoietin 2) was observed. There was no difference in the expression of Angiopoietin 1 and phosphorylated Tie2 (pTie2) between the lesional skin of rosacea and non-lesional skin.