VEGFA and rheumatoid arthritis: It reduces the content of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, TNF-α and IL-1β in serum and blocks the necessary links of inflammatory response in CIA rats.[21] It can also inhibit the overexpression of VEGF protein, IL-17, and IL-23 in knee tissues, block the IL-23/IL-17 axis, inhibit local angiogenesis, and delay the destruction around the joint.[22] Similar to EA treatment, fire needling treatment reduced the serum levels of TNF- and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibody, and alleviated local inflammatory cell infiltration in RA rats.