VEGFA and rheumatoid arthritis: The results of RT-PCR and western blot analyses revealed that the mRNA and protein expression of VEGF was increased in the retinas of rats with OIR compared with that of the rats in the control RA group (P < 0.01), but the levels decreased significantly in the retinas from the LV.shC/EBP β group compared with those of the LV.shScrambled group (P < 0.01, Figure 6).