Transforming growth factor beta2 in the vitreous in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the hypothesis that transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-beta2) is involved in the cause of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).


METHODS
We assayed TGF-beta2 levels in the vitreous of patients with PDR and other vitreoretinal disorders. Forty-nine vitreous specimens were obtained from eyes of patients with PDR undergoing vitrectomy, and 19 vitreous specimens from nondiabetic subjects served as controls. We assessed TGF-beta2 levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both mature and total TGF-beta2 levels were quantified.


RESULTS
The mean (+/- SD) total levels of TGF-beta2 were 2634 (+/- 1652) pg/mL in the patients with PDR and 1305 (+/- 972) pg/mL in controls. The mean (+/- SD) levels of mature TGF-beta2 were 244 (+/- 316) pg/mL in patients with PDR and 79 (+/- 81) pg/mL in controls. Total and mature TGF-beta2 levels were significantly greater in patients with PDR (total TGF-beta2, P <.001; mature TGF-beta2, P <.01). Mature TGF-beta2 levels were higher in the vitreous of patients who had severe fibrous proliferation.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate increased levels of both total and mature TGF-beta2 in the vitreous of patients with PDR, suggesting that TGF-beta2 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PDR.
Hirase
K
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Ikeda
T
T
Sotozono
C
C
Nishida
K
K
Sawa
H
H
Kinoshita
S
S
D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta