Further studies have shown that in rheumatic diseases, the locally produced IL-17 acts pathogenically by stimulating the production by synoviocytes and chondrocytes of other pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory mediators (prostaglandin E2/PGE2), and proangiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor/VEGF), which intensifies and supports inflammatory response. Here, VEGFA is linked to rheumatic disorder.